The heartbroken mum of missing woman Nicola Payne has sadly died without ever finding out what happened to her daughter who vanished in 1991. Marilyn Payne is confirmed to have passed away at the age of 77 on Tuesday, the Mirror reports.
Her family described her as a determined and brave mother who 'never gave up' on her missing child who vanished over thirty years ago in Coventry at 18-years-old. Writing on the Find Nicola Payne Facebook page, her family said: “Nicola’s family are devastated to announce the death of her mum, Marilyn Payne.
"A tenacious woman who never gave up on finding her daughter and laying her to rest. The bravery she showed was extraordinary, and now her determination will continue through her family and many friends in order to finally bring Nicola home.”
Nicola disappeared in December 1991 while she walked home from her boyfriend's home on a foggy night in Coventry. The teen who had a seven-month-old son named Owen at the time vanished in a patch of land known as the 'Black Pad' on a journey home to her parent's house which should only have taken around five minutes.
No trace of her body has ever been found. A number of arrests have been made in the years after Nicola's disappearance but two male suspects were acquitted following a careless police investigation and a 2015 court case at Birmingham Crown Court.
Marilyn and her husband John, also 77, last made a public appeal for information on the 30 year anniversary of Nicola's disappearance in 2021. The campaign for information on the missing woman will be continued by her brothers Scott, 55 and Nigel, 57 along with Nicola's cousin Amanda Earles, 42.
Speaking on the 30th anniversary, Amanda said Nicola was 'the big sister I never had'. She said: “I was eight years younger than Nicky, and I really looked up to her.
"She had everything to live for. She completely adored her son – and everyone who knew her loved her.
“Everyone’s life took a different turn the day she disappeared, and we are still here, 30 years later, trying to find answers. We are a big family and there is always a birthday or anniversary to celebrate.
"There is always an empty space where Nicola should be.” Anyone with information about the disappearance can contact West Midlands Police on 101 or via its Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight.
Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers confidentially on 0800 555 111 or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
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