Missing Yvette Watson: Parents 'desperate' to know daughter's fate

Yvette Watson, 17, disappeared from the David Rice Hospital at Hellesdon on 30 March 1979

The parents of a teenage girl who disappeared 40 years ago have spoken of their desperation to find out what happened to her.

Yvette Watson, 17, left a hospital near Norwich on 30 March 1979 and, apart from an unconfirmed sighting early that April, has not been seen since.

Her parents Colin, 84, and Enid Watson, 79, of Aldeburgh, Suffolk, still hope to discover why she went missing.

"We always think about her," said Mr Watson.

"We desperately want to know what happened."

Yvette attended Aldeburgh Primary School and Leiston Secondary School

Yvette's parents last saw her on Sunday 25 March at the David Rice Hospital in Hellesdon where she was a voluntary patient being treated for depression.

Mr Watson said Yvette was due to go back to her parents' home on 2 April because she was nearing the age of 18 when the hospital could no longer look after her.

Mrs Watson said: "She had been quite ill and I don't think she was thinking straight. She was very vulnerable... and she would talk to strangers."

Enid and Colin Watson still hope to find out what happened to their daughter

Yvette's early years showed little sign of trouble.

She attended Aldeburgh Primary and Leiston Secondary schools, receiving praise in reports for her "original mind".

But at 13 she suffered mood swings and depression and at 14 she ran away from home for the first time, hitching a lift to Ipswich.

In 1976 social services found her a place at a school and home for troubled teenage girls in Ditchingham, Norfolk, until she was admitted to the David Rice Hospital in March 1978.

Police have reviewed the case a number of times, but have so far failed to find any substantial leads.

Mr Watson said: "We don't know what happened to her. The police went into it thoroughly. They even went over to Ireland as part of the investigation.

"We would love to find out if she is still alive and what led up to her disappearance."

In 2009, Norfolk Police said it had investigated the possibility Yvette may have been a victim of serial killer Peter Tobin, but found no links.

Andy Guy, cold case manager within the joint Norfolk and Suffolk major investigation team, said: "There have been a number of theories over the years concerning the circumstances of Yvette's disappearance. However, sadly, she has never been found.

"We will always review any information given to police and take necessary action if it is thought to be credible, regardless of how much time has passed."