Timeline of Nicola Payne disappearance

Nicola Payne was last seen on 14 December 1991

Mother-of-one Nicola Payne was 18 when she went missing while walking to her parents' house in Coventry in December 1991. The case has remained open ever since - here are the key moments in the long-running saga:

14 December 1991

While walking to her parents' Henley Green house from the Winston Avenue home she shares with her boyfriend half a mile away, Nicola goes missing. Years pass without her being found, despite a police investigation and appeals by the family.

December 1998

Her parents, Marilyn and John Payne, make a new appeal for information, although her mother says she is unlikely to be found alive.

March 2003

Police say the case will remain open until they find out what happened.

May 2005

A series of adverts are displayed on lorries in an appeal for information.

Nicola's parents Marilyn and John Payne have made several appeals for information

December 2005

The case features on The Missing, a television programme aimed at reuniting missing persons with their families.

August 2007

Nicola Payne's son Owen, now 16, makes a fresh appeal for information.

November 2007

A 37-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of abducting and murdering Nicola, although no charges are brought.

June 2008

Police dig up a garden at a house on Winston Avenue, although nothing is found.

December 2011

Police launch another appeal, 20 years after Nicola's disappearance.

The area known as the Black Pad where Nicola was last seen

June 2012

Police launch a search of parkland off Purcell Road after receiving new information. A day later, two men are arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to prevent the lawful and decent burial of a body. Nothing is found in the park and the men are later released without charge.

December 2012

Police make a fresh appeal to trace two men seen near where Nicola Payne went missing.

January 2013

Officers say calls following the latest appeal have produced 25 new leads.

Friends said Nicola (far right) was described as a funny, lovely genuine girl

December 2013

New forensic tests are carried out on items recovered during the inquiry. Three people are arrested in connection with Nicola's disappearance.

February 2014

Police reveal they are carrying out a preliminary search of an area of land on a local nature reserve, off Dunrose Close in Binley.

January 2015

Two men are charged with Nicola's abduction and murder. Nigel Barwell and Thomas O'Reilly, both from Coventry, were originally arrested in December 2013. A 52-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice is released without charge.

November 2015

Mr Barwell and Mr O'Reilly are cleared of murdering Nicola by a jury at Birmingham Crown Court.

Nigel Barwell, left and Thomas O'Reilly have been cleared of murdering Nicola Payne

December 2016

Police say a new witness has come forward to say Nicola was taken to Coombe Abbey in Warwickshire on the day she went missing.

Her parents also say they still have hopes of finding their daughter as they mark the 25th anniversary of her disappearance.

Nicola's family have said they still have hopes of finding her

December 2017

Nicola's family make a renewed appeal to find her body and increase a reward for information by £20,000.

January 2018

Nicola's family work with a private forensics search team of ex-military specialists who use sonar and ground radar equipment to search around Coombe Country Park.

An anonymous donor also offers a £100,000 reward for information leading to the discovery of Nicola's body.

Search teams examined ground at Coombe Country Park in Warwickshire in 2018

January 2019

West Midlands Police says it has received "new information" and is working with a specialist underwater search team to examine a stretch of canal between Coventry and Rugby as part of efforts to find Nicola.

February 2021

A vigil is held to mark the 30th anniversary of Nicola's disappearance. Her family attend and make a fresh plea for information, with her brother Nigel saying all he wants is for his parents to get Nicola back and lay her to rest.

Nigel Payne made a fresh appeal for information about his sister's disappearance

March 2023

Marilyn Payne dies. A social media post describes her as a tenacious woman who never gave up on finding her daughter and laying her to rest.

"The bravery she showed was extraordinary, and now her determination will continue through her family and many friends in order to finally bring Nicola home," the post read.