A heartbroken mum has spoken of her anguish following the suspected killing of her daughter and death of two sons.
Sylvia Jenkins has made numerous public appeals for daughter Natalie, who went missing in 2019, however police fear she has been murdered.
Following Natalie's disappearance, Sylvia's family was then dealt another devastating blow with the death of her youngest son, the Mirror reports.
Neville Francis Holdsworth, who struggled with drug addiction, died on August 30 of diabetic ketoacidosis, which occurs when a diabetes suffer starts to run out of insulin and high levels of ketones build up in the body.
The 38-year-old was Sylvia's last surviving child and beloved stepson of her husband Chris.
Neville was "a Middlesbrough lad through and through", she said.
Sylvia said: "He was an excellent footballer and got scouted on more than one occasion.
"He loved art and poetry and he loved the Boro. He had lots of friends in the town and he was a lovely lad - everyone who knew him said it - even the police.
"I had a very close connection with probation because I did a lot to try to help Neville.
"I am still in shock that my boy has passed away He had been a drug user but he did not die of drugs; he was seriously ill.
"It happened when I was just starting to get my head around Natalie."
In 2004, Sylvia lost her eldest son Anthony when he fell from a balcony at his home in Thornaby. He was just 24.
At the time it was reported the brothers were extremely close.
On December 19, 2019, Natalie went missing aged 32. She is presumed to have been murdered but no one has been brought to justice.
The investigation was scaled back in June and a man suspected of killing her was released with no further action.
At the time, Sylvia and Chris publicly thanked the officers who worked on Natalie's case.
The mother-of-three had nothing but praise for the police who, she said, "left no stone unturned".
Sylvia says that even though a body has never been found she has accepted Natalie is no longer alive.
She said: "I do believe she has died. We were so close, she would have been in touch with me if she was still alive."
Despite the investigation being scaled back, Mrs Jenkins urged anyone with information that could help catch Natalie's killer to come forward.
She said: "I don't want anyone to think it's over with now. We haven't heard anything new but I know that they review it every year."
Sylvia believes drugs were "a catalyst" to the tragic death of her daughter and she also tried in vain to help Natalie in her battle with addiction.
She said: "We have lived with trauma for a long time with drug addiction being in our family.
"I function and I do everything I can to make Christmas as normal as possible.
"I put my tree up and do the decorations because that is what is expected. But I am honestly just on autopilot."
Natalie was last seen walking towards Albert Park on Park Road South in Middlesbrough at 11.38pm.
It is believed she was still in this area in the early hours of the following day.
CCTV footage showed her walking along Parliament Road at around 7.55pm.
Earlier on the same night, she was seen on Westbury Street in Thornaby, before walking on Stockton Road towards Middlesbrough.
Officers have investigated 115 reported sightings, viewed 130 CCTV clips, taken almost 1,200 statements and seized 1,500 items of potential evidence.
Temporary Detective Inspector Iain Pearson said: “Extensive enquiries have been carried out to try to find Natalie and her disappearance is still being investigated by Cleveland Police.
“We are supporting Natalie’s family, particularly over this difficult period, and our thoughts remain with them and all those affected by her disappearance.
“Anyone who may have information in relation to the inquiry can call Cleveland Police on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
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