The investigation into a boy who was last seen over 35 years ago will be reopened if new information comes to light, Merseyside Police said.
Mark Garvey went missing from his family home in Walton after leaving to visit his girlfriend. The 15-year-old was last seen near a bus stop by the Jolly Miller pub on Queens Drive, West Derby on March 2 1987.
It emerged Mark and his girlfriend had argued after he found her with his best friend. The teenager left in tears to catch a bus and has not been seen since. Police worked extensively on the case in the following months questioning everyone at Mark's school - De La Salle in Croxteth.
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Officers also searched Walton Park with tracker dogs and an announcement was made over the loud speakers at Everton's Goodison Park. But no trace of the teenager was ever found and no one came forward with information.
The ECHO re-appealed for information yesterday morning - the day after what would have been Mark's 51st birthday. Mark's sister Rose, who was born several years after his disappearance, previously told the ECHO how she promised her dad she would never stop looking for "their Mark".
The 33-year-old said she "knows" her older brother is still out there. She added: "I know he's out there because he was so smart and clever and I can just feel it - I know it. I like to believe he's got a great family and I've got nieces and nephews out there.
"I like to think he's married and got a good job. I like to think he has a nice home and he's doing well. I don't think anything negative about him, I just think positive and I know I’m going to bring him home - he’s going to come home one day and when he does I'll give him the biggest hug and I won't let go. I will never stop looking for him because I know he's out there - I know he is."
ECHO readers shared their own memories of the case as well as messages of support to Mark's family. Weldon Roberta said: "I remember this. I was a couple of years older than him and it care me that he just vanished. So heartbreaking for all his family." Bernie Brice added: "Heartbreaking for his family. I don't know the family but I often think about this boy. Hope Christmas this year brings news of Mark."
And a number of other readers asked if a petition could be raised for the case to be reopened. The ECHO asked Merseyside Police about their investigation into the missing persons case.
Inspector Sandra Capkan, who leads the Missing Persons Team, said: "We conduct six-monthly reviews on all inactive missing from home cases, carrying out checks across various agencies. If any new information came to light in relation to Mark, we would immediately reopen the case."
Anyone who knows of Mark’s whereabouts or has any other information is asked to DM @MerPolCC or call 101. Sightings can also be reported via our online form: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/ro/report/mp/v2/report-sighting-of-missing-person-form/.
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