MORE than three decades after a Llangollen antiques dealer went missing, police continue to encourage anyone who may have information to come forward.
Trevaline Evans disappeared on Saturday, June 16, 1990, in what was described by a police chief as "the strangest enquiry."
She was 52 years old at the time and had left her shop, Attic Antiques, on Church Street, at about 12.40pm.
A note left on her door explained she would be “back in two minutes”.
But despite a full-scale investigation and numerous television appeals, what happened to Trevaline Evans remains a mystery.
Following confirmation with North Wales Police that information about her disappearance would be welcomed after all these years, the Leader has looked back on its reports of the baffling case.
READ MORE: 'He has died not knowing what happened to his wife'
The events of the day
Roughly 20 minutes after leaving her shop, Trevaline bought an apple and a banana and was seen crossing Castle Street.
The last confirmed sighting of her was near her home on Market Street at 2.30pm.
Other than two unconfirmed sightings of someone resembling her later that afternoon, she was never seen again.
Strangely, Trevaline had left her handbag and jacket at the shop - along with fruit and flowers she had intended to take home.
Speaking to the Leader in 1992, Det Chief Insp Colin Edwards, who was heading the continuing investigation into Trevaline's disappearance, said: “It is without doubt the strangest inquiry I have ever been involved with.
“How a happily married woman could vanish without trace on a sunny Saturday morning in a busy town centre is totally baffling.”
Subsequent lines of inquiry
There have been numerous twists over the years and new leads the police have followed up but came to nothing.
One of the best-known leads was the apparent sighting of Trevaline in a remote town in Australia.
She was also supposedly seen in London and Interpol was drafted in to probe possible sightings of her in France.
One of the strangest lines of inquiry happened in 1993 but again proved fruitless.
Police sniffer dogs searched a canal bank near Llangollen after a woman who had been walking there wrote to police stating that she had been “overwhelmed” by a feeling that Trevaline was nearby.
This was not the only such lead – the year before an area of woodland in the World’s End area had been searched after a spiritualist medium said she was convinced Trevaline was there.
Family
Richard Evans, Trevaline's husband, died in 2014 with the mystery of his wife’s disappearance unsolved.
Trevaline’s brother, Len Davies, said at the time: “Richard passed away not knowing what has happened to his wife.
"I still don’t know myself what happened."
Following Richard Evans' death, Clwyd South AM Ken Skates called for further national publicity about the case.
He said: "I’m sure Mrs Evans’ surviving family will never lose hope that they might find out what happened to her and I would urge anyone who has information which could help to contact police.
“This is a most unusual case, but of course it’s possible that someone still alive today knows what happened.”
Ongoing appeal and possible documentary
This week, North Wales Police confirmed to the Leader that it remains interested to hear from anyone who may have new information about the case.
A spokesman for the force added: "North Wales Police review unsolved or unresolved cases if further information comes to light or if there are developments in forensic science which might be relevant."
Earlier this year Silent Witness star Emilia Fox was spotted at Llangollen Bridge.
Her visit is believed to be as part of filming for an upcoming Channel 4 true crime documentary series which looks at real-life cold cases.
The actress, who joined criminologist Prof David Wilson in the town, told locals there that they were investigating the disappearance of Trevaline Evans.
READ MORE: Silent Witness star Emilia Fox spotted filming in Llangollen
Mystery plaque in Denbighshire
In recent weeks, a metal plate has been attached to a wooden bench at Pant-y-Fachwen, the remains of a 200-year-old miner's cottage on the hillside above Prestatyn.
The inscription scrawled on the plaque reads: "Justice awaits those responsible for the removal and disposal of Trevaline Evans (in this life or next) from Rhuddlan Golf Club on March 19, 2019 at noon.
“May the Lord have mercy upon their soul."
The style is identical to that of a plaque which was fixed last year to a bench on the Prestatyn-Dyserth walkway and later removed by Denbighshire County Council.
That read: "In memory of Trevaline Evans. Vanished June 16, 1990, found in Rhuddlan Golf Club March 14, 2019, removed March 19, 2019. RIP.”
Mrs Evans was not known to have any connections with Prestatyn or Dyserth
But she and her husband were refurbishing a bungalow in Rhuddlan where they planned to retire.
READ MORE: Plaque referring to Trevaline Evans disappearance in 1990 appears on hillside
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here