Haunting clip of mum begging for answers surfaces over girl, 15, feared murdered by Fred West as family praise cafe hunt
THE mum of a teenage girl feared murdered by Fred West can be seen begging her daughter to come home in a haunting old clip – as cops ramp up their search 53 years after she vanished.
Forensic archaeologists have been scouring the Clean Plate cafe in Southgate Street, Gloucestershire, in connection with the disappearance of 15-year-old Mary Bastholm.
Ground penetrating cameras have also shown an image of what they think is buried bones – along with dark blue material matching a coat Mary was wearing when she vanished in January 1968.
In a resurfaced clip from 1970, Mary’s mum Doreen pleads with her daughter: “Please come home or get in contact with us.”
Her dad Christian says: “It is rather difficult to say, but one thing I will always say is this – she did not go away on her own.
“For a young girl like that to evade the police for so long, well she’d have to be a master of the game wouldn’t she?
“Personally I think she took a lift from someone she knew, this could have been someone perhaps who came into the cafe.”
Sadly, both Mary’s parents died before they could find the truth about their daughter.
But the teen’s remaining family have said they are “extremely happy” with police efforts.
They said in a statement: “Senior investigating officer John Turner has sat with us and explained the ongoing investigation as well as his intentions to excavate the cafe to try and find Mary.
“We are extremely happy Gloucestershire Police is continuing to try and search for Mary and this gives us a chance to potentially put her at rest after all these years.
“We want to thank everyone who has wished us support through this distressing time, and we are continuing to be in close touch with the investigation team, and are being kept up to date with any new developments.
“We hope this is a chance to finally get closure for Mary and would like to continue to ask for privacy whilst the excavation is ongoing.”
The major breakthrough comes days after a 39-strong police team led by three archaeologists began analysing the basement of the café in Gloucester, half a mile from West’s home at 25 Cromwell Street.
They are working in an area to the side of the basement which builder West converted into toilets.
The material and suspected bones are under a partition.
A source told The Sun: “Camera images clearly show material which matches the navy blue coat Mary was wearing when abducted.
“In addition, there are images of what look very much like human bones.
“Great care is being taken to sift through the surface.”
Gloucestershire Police had received possible evidence from a TV production company to suggest the body of the missing teenager could be buried at the location.
And cops said excavation work will take place after “anomalies” were found.
‘SLOW AND PAINSTAKING WORK’
Detective Chief Inspector John Turner said: “The analysis from our experts and the material provided by the production company means there is enough evidence to justify excavation work beginning.
“I’ve spoken to the family and was so impressed by their quiet dignity and gratitude for all the work we’ve done and will be doing.
“They understand it is possible we won’t find human remains but they also know that we will do everything we can to establish if Mary is buried at this location.
“This will be slow and painstaking work but we have the best people on it and I can reassure our communities that all involved, from my team of investigators, our scenes of crime officers, search officers and family liaison officers to the forensic archaeologists who will continue their work are absolutely committed to the job ahead.
“In the meantime, I continue to ask for patience and understanding from all those affected by our ongoing presence at the cafe and thank everyone who has helped us in the last 10 days.”
West was a regular at the café, where Mary worked as a waitress before she went missing in 1968.
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