The mother of missing chef Claudia Lawrence says she feels “forgotten” by the police since the officer leading the case retired.
Claudia, 35, “disappeared without trace” on March 18, 2009, from her home in the Heworth area of York.
Her 77-year-old mum Joan Lawrence is steeling herself for “the cruellest of pain” – waking up on another Christmas Day not knowing what happened to Claudia.
Joan lives alone in her flat in Malton, North Yorkshire, and may spend Christmas on her own as her eldest daughter is worried about travelling.
Joan said: “This year has been so difficult. It’s getting close to Christmas, which always makes me sad, not having my youngest daughter with me.”
She says 2020 got even tougher after Det Supt Dai Malyn retired in August. She said: “I feel like I’ve lost the best officer I had in the case.
"It seems as if I have been forgotten by the police since Dai left.
"I wrote to North Yorkshire Police Crime Commissioner, Julia Mulligan, telling her I feel very forgotten and let down.
“It’s almost 12 years and still I don’t know where my daughter is. I don’t even know if there is a ‘grave’ somewhere.
“It plays on my mind that her body is out there.”
Claudia was reported missing when she failed to turn up for her work as a chef at the University of York.
There have been several arrests since she disappeared, but no charges have been brought.
Joan said: “I just hope 2021 brings some answers.
“I’m not getting any younger and it frightens me that I’ll never know what happened to my precious daughter.”
A police spokeswoman said: “Claudia Lawrence’s family can be assured that North Yorkshire Police will never give up until the truth is known.”
