Trevor Dunkley, 66, has been charged with the murder of Patricia Lashley, a mother-of-seven who vanished from the West Midlands in September 1998. West Midlands Police confirmed the charge on Wednesday, and Dunkley has been remanded into custody to appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Monday.
Background of the case
Patricia Lashley, known to friends as Pat or Jade, was 33 when she was last seen at her flat in Hall Street, Dudley. She also used the names Vanessa and Tricia, as well as the surname Bradford. She had links to Newcastle, London, Wales, and Scotland. According to police, Lashley moved to Dudley in the mid-1990s and frequented the No Limits club and other pubs in the area. She and Trevor Dunkley knew each other.
Police appeal for information
Detective Inspector Michelle Cordell said: 'We want to hear from anyone who may have known or remembers meeting Patricia or Trevor Dunkley. We know she was fairly well-known in both Dudley town centre and Oldbury. If anyone remembers anything or thinks they have any information which could help with our inquiries, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Even if you already spoke to us at the time Patricia went missing, we still want to hear from you as we gather as much information as we can to help her family find some closure after nearly 30 years.'
Officers are supporting Ms Lashley's family and have appealed for more information from anyone who knew the woman at the time of her disappearance. The case has remained unsolved for nearly three decades, and police hope the charge will bring the family closer to closure.
