The private investigators behind a new search for missing Coventry mum Nicola Payne say it’s the “best chance” to find her body.
A team of divers and investigators set up base at Coombe Country Park near the city on Monday for what they claim is the biggest search to date.
The 18-year-old mum-of-one disappeared 26 years ago last month, after leaving her boyfriend’s house in the city on December 14, but was never seen again .
A number of police-led searches have taken place at sites across Coventry and Warwickshire over the years to find her body, including at Coombe Country Park.
Two new areas at the woodland beauty spot have been earmarked for investgation, and a team from Specialist Group International (SGI) are currently undertaking a dive deep into the lake.
Peter Faulding, founder of SGI, is working with investigative journalist Mark Williams-Thomas.
Mr Faulding said: “Yesterday was the first day of the search.
“I am working with Mark, as he received new information on the case.
“We have brought a lot of tech with us, including ground penetrating radar, which sends a radar signal to the depths of the ground.
“We are searching a very large area of woodland as well as the lake.
“It is fresh hope for the family.”
The experienced team have all the latest tech to help them with the search, including their own helicopter, diving team and the ground team who will search woodland.
They have also said they have put by a large amount of time to search and give the family justice.
Peter added: “We are a highly experienced team and have our own helicopter to cover the aerial views of the area.
“What we are trying to hope is to fresh people’s minds, as it is key information which might crop up.”
Mark Williams-Thomas said he believes this is the best chance for the family so far.
He told the Telegraph it isn’t just about the physical search, but about talking to people behind the scenes who may remember things they didn’t before.
Mark said: “I think it is really close.
“We are working in teams of search and also behind the scenes to visit people.
“West Midlands Police did a really good job, and we want to build on that.
“We have a dedicated search team and the tech is the highest of the high.
“We want people to come forward, and we want someone prosecuted for this but first, we want the answers for the family.
“We could be here for quite a while. We are dedicated to the family to support them and fight for them.”
Mark also said they are putting a lot of pressure on people to come forward and tell them things they might not have remembered several years ago.
He added: “It is about managing people’s expectations.
“We are going to put real pressure on people in the community.
“One or more people knows where she is, now we hope they can break the confidence and give some justice to the family.
“It is important to know where our children are.”
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Nicola Payne
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