Ely murder arrest over missing landlady Deborah Steel
- Published
Deborah Steel has not been seen since 28 December 1997
A man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a pub landlady who went missing in 1997.
Deborah Steel, 37, landlady of the Royal Standard in Ely, Cambridgeshire was last seen at about 01:00 on 28 December that year.
A 70-year-old man is in custody at Parkside Police Station in Cambridge.
Police are also searching an address at Longfields in Ely. Ms Steel's body has never been found.
Det Ch Insp Martin Brunning, said: "I am convinced the answer to Deborah Steel's disappearance lies in Ely and that there are people in the city who can provide key information.
"I am appealing to anyone who may be able provide fresh information on this case to contact us. All information will be treated in confidence, and can be left anonymously.
"Deborah has not been seen for 17 years and her family deserve to know what happened to her."
A Freedom of Information request to Cambridgeshire Police earlier this year revealed the case for Ms Steel had recently been reclassified from a long-term missing person to a murder inquiry.