Six weeks on, 'nightmare' of missing Betty continues

Published on Thursday 8 July 2010 19:17

THE SISTER of a woman who went missing six weeks ago has described her "living nightmare" as police renew their appeal for information on her whereabouts.

Elizabeth Brown, known to friends and family as Betty, was last seen on CCTV footage getting off a bus in Nicolson Street. Since her disappearance she has not used her bank cards and her mobile phone has been switched off.

Today her sister, Maureen McLaughlin, appealed to her Miss Brown to come forward and let her loved-ones know that she is safe.

Ms McLaughlin said she believed Miss Brown, 55, may have severed contact with friends and family of her own accord, but had "no idea why Betty would do that".

She said: "We've heard nothing at all for six weeks and it is like a living nightmare. Betty recently missed her granddaughter's fifth birthday and her daughter's second wedding anniversary. She never misses anything like that. If she couldn't get down to Gretna to see them, she would always send a card. There has been nothing.

"It's hard to know what to think. We hope she is still somewhere, and that she has just had enough of life as it is. I don't understand why she has done this and I hope that nothing has happened."

Ms McLaughlin said Miss Brown, who went missing on 28 May, would visit her every Friday up until her disappearance.

She said the pair were close and that her sister had shown no signs of problems or distress before she vanished.

She added: "Bad thoughts do run through your head. We can only hope that nobody is holding Betty against her will. I don't know what to think."

Lothian and Borders Police are today handing out leaflets around Nicolson Square, where she was last seen, and will drive a trailer around the area. Officers are also set to leaflet drop around 6000 homes.

Chief Inspector Allison Strachan said: "Officers will be in the vicinity of Nicolson Square, handing out leaflets and trying to jog the memories of those who may have been in the area at the time that Betty was last seen.

"After leaving the bus at 11:55am, we know that she crossed the street and visited the cash machine at the Royal Bank of Scotland on Nicolson Street. The trail ends there, and we are appealing for anyone who can help us establish her movements after this point to get in touch."

Miss Brown was last seen wearing a black jacket, open neck blouse, blue jeans and black shoes, and was carrying two large Aldi carrier bags.

She is described as around 5ft 7ins tall, with fair hair, and glasses.

Anyone with any information should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.