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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Ryan Thom

Devastated family mystified after missing mum vanishes near Ayrshire loch as husband begs for her to 'come home'

The devastated husband of a missing mum from England who vanished at an Ayrshire loch has begged his wife to come home.

Geoff Monkman, 56, says he has felt lost without his wife Mary Monkman who was last spotted at Loch Doon on Friday, June 16.

The 49-year-old mum-of-three had travelled from the couple’s home in Kendal Cumbria.

The co-owner of Lakeland Artisan along with husband Geoff was out that morning visiting a client before driving 130 miles north to the East Ayrshire beauty spot.

Her red Nissan Juke has since been found abandoned by the West Bank of the loch side sparking a major search of the surrounding area.

Geoff and Mary are successful business owners down south (© MILTON HAWORTH 2023.)

Now nearly two weeks on since she was last seen, Geoff has pleaded with her to come home safe and sound.

Geoff told Ayrshire Live: “I miss Mary so much. She’s my wife, my business partner, my best friend, and my rock. I'm lost without her as are her family and children.

“Mary, if you’re reading this, I love you. I miss you. We’re all missing you. We just want you home safe and sound.”

Geoff has been joined by desperate family members who have travelled to Scotland to frantically search for May after being left stunned by her disappearance.

The search party has included Mary’s parents, brother, cousins, uncles, nephew and devoted husband of six years Geoff.

Mary’s sister-in-law Melanie Denyer, spoke to Ayrshire Live on the family’s behalf.

Melanie told Ayrshire Live: “None of this makes sense.

“Mary is such a devoted mother and wife, she is accomplished and professional.

CCTV images showing what Mary was last wearing have been released (ayrshire police division)

“She’s not a quitter, she never has been, she fights for things.

“It’s hard to equate Mary with anyone who would just disappear.

“Mary has three amazing kids who need their mum and Mary knows they need her.”

Melanie says the family have been left “searching for answers” with Mary having no connection to Loch Doon and Ayrshire.

Melanie added: “There is absolutely zero connection to Loch Doon for Mary and her family, no one knows why Loch Doon. No one, not even the police.

“Everything right now is just speculation. We just have so many questions, we don’t know why she decided to do this.

“I don’t even think Mary had any intentions at all of going missing.

“We all just love her so much and we want her to come home.”

Melanie admits the family are hopeful of finding Mary safe and well.

Meanwhile search and rescue teams have helped police scan the huge area.

Mary vanished on Friday, June 16 (Submitted/Ayrshire Post /)

Water rescue teams have been out scouring the loch with the shoreline checked over the weekend.

Family members have also sent out drones in a bid to find any trace of Mary’s whereabouts.

Melanie has praised Police Scotland for their efforts and paid tribute to the incredible kindness from locals.

She added: “We’re all a bunch of English people who have come up to somewhere that is completely strange to us to ask for help.

“Police Scotland for starters have been absolutely fantastic, their response and support has been incredible.

Mary abandoned her car at the Ayrshire beauty spot (Daily Record)


“If anyone can find Mary it will be them, they are so dedicated and hard working.

“The people in the area, everyone we have spoken to have been so kind and supportive.

“We hadn’t even heard of Loch Doon until last Friday, but the people have been so universally lovely.

"Nothing makes this easy but the kindness of people helps.”

Meanwhile police launched a fresh appeal for Mary, a week on since she vanished.

Mary was last seen wearing a green and white floral top and blue leggings.

Inspector Jennifer McCulloch said: "I would encourage anyone who has seen Mary since Friday, June 16, or who has any information on her whereabouts to contact us as soon as possible quoting reference 2648 of Saturday, June 17, 2023.”

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