A 62-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a teenage girl who disappeared 28 years ago. Donna Keogh, 17, was last seen in Middlesbrough town centre in 1998, and her body has never been found.
Second arrest in cold case
Cleveland Police confirmed the arrest of the man in Manchester on Friday, July 4, 2026. He is being held in custody for questioning. This follows the arrest of a 64-year-old man in Leeds on suspicion of murder earlier in the investigation.
Senior investigating officer Evan Kirtley said: 'This morning we have made a second arrest in connection with the murder of Donna Keogh. The man remains in police custody, where he will be interviewed.'
Donna's disappearance
Donna was described at the time as 5 ft 2 inches tall, of slim build, with blonde hair tied in a leopard-skin bobble. She was wearing a sky blue backless/sleeveless dress and black knee-length boots with a crocodile design. Her disappearance was reported to police only one month after she vanished.
Two men were arrested on suspicion of murder in 1999, but no charges were brought. Donna's parents, Brian and Shirley, told Teesside Live they have endured nearly 30 years of 'heartache' and have 'never gotten on with their lives' since her disappearance. 'Time has stood still with us,' they said.
Investigation failures and renewed efforts
Cleveland Police publicly apologised for failings in the initial investigation. In 2016, Operation Resolute was launched to determine Donna's fate, taking 1,788 statements. Police excavated an allotment in Teesside after finding human remains, but forensic testing revealed they dated to the Middle Ages.
Kirtley added: 'Donna's family have lived with unbearable uncertainty for nearly 30 years as they need answers as to what happened to Donna, and we are determined to find those answers for them. Somebody out there knows what happened and could tell us, in order to give the family some comfort and peace, after all this time.'
Reward and appeal
Crimestoppers has offered a £20,000 reward for information about Donna's suspected murder. Police urge anyone with information to contact them directly or report anonymously.
