Patricia Finnie, a woman from Southend, vanished without a trace on 11 May 2017. She was last seen in the Bellevue Avenue area of Southend after visiting a friend on Riviera Drive. CCTV footage captured a woman matching her description walking towards Southchurch Road. Investigators believe she caught a bus there, but after that, she disappeared completely.
Patricia’s family have been heartbroken over the lost years since her disappearance. Her son, Matthew, spoke about the pain of her absence during important life events. “There will always be a sadness that mum has not been around to be some part of the better events of the past three years,” he said. “There are parts of your life where, I believe, your mum and dad should be there. We had dad, we had my fiancé Laura’s dad and stepmother round. That was the day where we’d agreed to tell them that my partner, Laura, was pregnant. It was a bit weird mum not being there, it would have been absolutely fantastic. I know she would have been over the moon.”
Patricia’s husband, Gordon, keeps her memory alive at their home. “There’s no shrine but Pat’s part of our lives,” he said. “In our garden, there’s a Silver Anniversary rose 23 years old; a rose named ‘Patricia’ from her grandson; and a plant from a Cornwall holiday. Her beautiful cross-stitch work still decorates our walls. She’s all around.” Gordon urges anyone who might have seen Patricia to come forward. “If you believe you have seen someone that is Pat, please contact Essex Police on 101. The message to Pat from the family is, the door remains ajar. We’re doing everything we can to find you, hopefully safe and well. If you’re there, just get in touch.”
Detective Superintendent Neil Pudney provided details on the ongoing investigation. “Patricia left a friend’s house in Riviera Drive between 12:45 pm and 1:15 pm on 11 May 2017. CCTV shows her walking toward Southchurch Road. We believe she caught a bus from that area but she has not been seen since.” Patricia was last seen wearing a full-length black quilted coat with a hood, a pink top, navy trousers, and black shoes.
Police have reviewed hours of CCTV footage, carried out house-to-house inquiries, conducted drone searches, and liaised with local bus and rail companies, but no leads have emerged. “We remain open-minded about what has happened and need answers for Gordon, Matthew, and the rest of her family,” said Detective Superintendent Pudney.
If you have any information about Patricia Finnie’s whereabouts, please contact Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Your help could bring hope to a family still waiting for answers.
Originally published by UKNIP.
