Three people arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the decades-old disappearance of Robert Scott Clive have been released on bail, Northumbria Police confirmed on Monday.
Clive, known to friends and family as Scott, vanished on October 10, 2002, after he was last seen around 11 p.m. in North Shields. The then 30-year-old had recently relocated to the area from Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland. Despite extensive searches over the years, Clive’s body has never been found, but police launched a murder investigation soon after his disappearance.
Over the weekend, two men, aged in their 40s and 50s, and a woman in her 40s were arrested based on “new information” that surfaced during the ongoing investigation. Among the trio is a 49-year-old man who had previously been arrested last summer in connection with the case.
In a statement, a Northumbria Police spokesperson said, “The three arrested have since been bailed pending further police enquiries.”
New Leads and Ongoing Investigations
As part of their renewed probe, officers have been searching an address in the Coronation Street area of North Shields, a location Scott is believed to have visited the night he disappeared. Police are focusing efforts on the area in hopes of uncovering crucial evidence.
Detective Inspector Mark Atherton, leading the investigation, reiterated the importance of community assistance in solving the case. “We are doing everything we can to provide Scott’s family with the answers they deserve,” Atherton said. “I am again urging anybody who lived on Coronation Street at the time of his disappearance, or has information about Scott’s movements that night, to come forward.”
Family’s Long Wait for Answers
For over two decades, Clive’s family has been left in limbo, seeking closure about what happened on that fateful night. While the recent arrests brought renewed hope, the path to answers remains uncertain as police continue to comb through leads and evidence.
A Plea to the Public
Northumbria Police are appealing for anyone with information, no matter how minor it may seem, to assist in their investigation. Witnesses or anyone with knowledge about Scott’s whereabouts on October 10, 2002, are encouraged to contact the force directly or call Crimestoppers anonymously.
As the search for truth continues, authorities remain committed to resolving this two-decade mystery and providing Scott’s family with long-overdue closure.
