Father seeks answers 23 years after daughter's disappearance in Dudley
David Putt pleads for information on missing daughter Natalie
A father is renewing his plea for information regarding the disappearance of his daughter in Dudley 23 years ago.
Natalie Putt went missing from her home in Thornleigh, Lower Gornal, Dudley, on 1st September 2003 at the age of 17.
She left her 11-week-old son with relatives, saying she was going to the shops, but never returned.
Natalie would have been 40 years old this year, and her father, David Putt, continues his search for answers as he marks the anniversary of her disappearance.
Issuing previously unreleased photos of Natalie celebrating Christmas and trying on her father's jacket, David expressed his longing for closure:
“It’s been 23 years since Nat went missing which is a very long time and this year would have been her 40th birthday.
Somebody out there knows something, and I want to ask them to please come forward and contact the police.
I don’t care how big or small the information may be, the family needs to know what happened to her.
I will be 70 next year and I want to know what happened to her before my time is up."
Despite extensive missing person inquiries, numerous searches, and a nationwide appeal, her disappearance remains unresolved. Natalie was pronounced deceased on 15th January 2019 by a coroner, with the cause of death unascertained.
Detective Inspector Jim Church from the homicide review team noted:
“From the day she disappeared her bank account has remained untouched, she didn’t take any possessions and the last communication she made with anyone was on that day.
"Unfortunately, despite our best efforts Natalie has never been found or heard from since the day she left her home.
"She was a new mum who loved her son and would never have left him or left her family without reason."
David Putt's emotional appeal highlights the ongoing impact and need for answers:
“Please try and set your mind back to 1st September 2003 and get in touch if you saw anything that could help the officers looking into my daughter’s disappearance."
Previous investigations have seen searches of rivers, lakes, private land, and cemeteries, but no definitive leads have emerged.
In March 2004, a local man was arrested in connection with her disappearance but was released without charge.
DI Church stresses the importance of any piece of information that could help:
“Even if you think it’s not relevant, your information could be what we need to put the pieces together.
The team and I want to get answers for David and Natalie’s family and friends – they deserve to know what happened to her."
Individuals with information can contact the investigation team at 101, through Live Chat on the West Midlands Police website, or via the missing persons charity at 116 000.