Cops searching for missing mum who vanished after trip to Morrisons launch ‘murder’ probe with £20,000 reward for info
COPS have launched an urgent murder probe after a woman went missing, with a £20k reward for any information.
Charlene Hobbs, 36, from Cardiff, has not been seen since she vanished on July 2024 after a trip to Morrisons.
The last confirmed sighting is a mobile phone photograph taken of Charlene at a property in Broadway, Adamsdown, the very next day.
South Wales Police announced today that Charlene’s disappearance is now being treated as murder.
Cops said that they made the decision after having “no proof” and a “lack of evidence” that Charlene is alive.
Crimestoppers are now offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible.
Detectives and specialist search teams are continuing with extensive efforts to find Charlene and determine the circumstances around why she is missing.
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Powell, from South Wales Police, said: “We have always been determined to find Charlene alive and return her to her family, but despite a huge number of enquiries we have no proof that Charlene is alive. We are now investigating her disappearance as murder.
“While I have always maintained an open mind, the lack of evidence that Charlene is alive means that we are now treating her disappearance as a murder investigation.
“We have spoken to more than 250 people, either known to Charlene or from areas where she is known to frequent, and no-one can tell us where Charlene is or that she is alive, which of course we, her family and friends desperately want to hear.
“Several of those we have spoken to believe that she has died but no-one has been able to provide any specific details.”
He continued: “We are hoping that the Crimestoppers reward will help focus people’s minds.
“Charlene’s family continue to be updated, and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.”
Cops searching for Charlene combed several homes, cars, derelict buildings and patches of open land at the time of her disappearance.
They also spoke to the missing person’s friends and looked through CCTV footage of areas Charlene is “known to frequent”.
A photo was previously taken of the missing woman at an address in Broadway before she disappeared.
Further mobile phone analysis indicated later that evening Charlene may have been texting and calling people known to her, to possibly meet up.
South Wales Police previously issued new CCTV footage which shows the mum in a Morrisons Local, Adamsdown, on July 23, 2024.
In the footage, she can be seen walking around the store before waiting for a cashier at the till to make her purchase.
While waiting at the till, she can be seen looking at her phone for some time.
The cashier eventually comes to the till to help Charlene pay, with the mum leaving the store soon after.
Charlene was last seen with her hair in a bun and was wearing a dark strapless top.
She has a distinctive dragon tattoo on her back which is shown in the grainy photo.