A DAD has issued one final plea for answers on the disappearance of his daughter 23 years ago before his “time is up”.
Natalie Putt told her family she was popping to the shops in Dudley, West Midlands, in 2003, but she never came home – leaving behind her newborn son.
Natalie Putt was only 17-years-old when she went missing from her home in Dudley in 2003 Credit: SWNS
Natalie’s father has released pictures of her celebrating Christmas in the years before she disappeared Credit: SWNS
New pictures of missing Natalie, who vanished aged 17 and would have been 40 this year, have been released by her father, David Putt.
David, who will be 70 next year, has said he’s desperate for answers so he can finally properly mourn his little girl.
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The images show Natalie celebrating Christmas with her family and trying on her dad’s jacket.
David said: “It’s been 23 years since Nat went missing which is a very long time and this year would have been her 40th birthday.
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Little Natalie trying on her dad’s jacket Credit: SWNS
David Putt will be turning 70 next year and is desperate for answers before his ‘time is up’ Credit: SWNS
“Somebody out there knows something, and I want to ask them to please come forward and contact the police.
“I don’t care how big or small the information may be, the family needs to know what happened to her.
“I will be 70 next year and I want to know what happened to her before my time is up.”
Natalie left her 11-week-old son Rhys at home with family, saying she was just nipping to the shops – but the teenager never returned.
Natalie Putt left behind her newborn son Rhys Credit: BPM Media
Rhys was 11-weeks-old when Natalie disappeared Credit: PA:Press Association
Following extensive searches, a nationwide appeal and missing person enquiries, Natalie’s disappearance remains a tragic mystery.
Numerous tip offs from the public over the last 23 years have led to underwater search teams trawling rivers and lakes around her home.
Private land in Wombourne, South Staffordshire was also searched and a detailed forensic analysis of Natalie’s former home have all taken place.
David added: “Please try and set your mind back to 1 September 2003 and get in touch if you saw anything that could help the officers looking into my daughter’s disappearance.
Natalie would now be 40-years-old Credit: SWNS
Extensive searches have been carried to find Natalie Credit: PA:Press Association
“On 15 January 2019 the coroner pronounced Natalie deceased and her cause of death as unascertained, but we still have so many unanswered questions.
“Please, please help me and the family finally be able to mourn her properly with our questions around what happened to her answered.”
Despite huge searches of lakes, graveyards and woodland near her home, a body has never been found.
In March 2004, a local 18-year-old man was arrested in connection with her disappearance but later released without charge.
An inquest into her death in 2019 heard she most likely died on the day she was last seen, with many of her relatives believing Natalie was murdered.
Detective Inspector Jim Church, from our homicide review team, said: “It’s now been 23 years since Natalie went missing and we’re still working to get David and her family answers.
“From the day she disappeared her bank account has remained untouched, she didn’t take any possessions and the last communication she made with anyone was on that day.
“Unfortunately, despite our best efforts Natalie has never been found or heard from since the day she left her home.
“She was a new mum who loved her son and would never have left him or left her family without reason.
“Through my many chats with David, I know how much her disappearance has affected him and the whole family and all we want is to get her family some answers.”
