Search activity related to an historic murder case in Middlesbrough has concluded, with the investigation into the death of a teenager in 1998 continuing. Police and a specialist search team started work at a former allotment site near to Troon Close, Middlesbrough on Monday 18th June as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Donna Keogh from Middlesbrough in 1998 when she was just 17 years old. Donna has never been found and her disappearance is being treated as a murder investigation.

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Today (Wednesday 25th July) police announced that the excavation work at Troon Close would conclude this week. During the course of the excavation a fragment of human jaw bone was recovered, however forensic testing (including DNA testing and radiocarbon dating) has confirmed that it is not related to the murder investigation and dates back to the early-medieval period.

Detective Chief Superintendent Jon Green said: “Donna’s family desperately want to give her a proper funeral and finally lay her body to rest, and finding Donna continues to be a priority for the investigation team.

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“This has been a complex and thorough search conducted over a number of weeks and I would like to thank all those who have taken part for their efforts. This has not been easy work, especially given the temperatures our search teams have been working in, and they have demonstrated exceptional professionalism and dedication.

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“The recovery of a bone fragment slowed the search considerably and has been the main reason the search activity lasted as long as it did. As well as our search teams, I would like to take local residents for supporting us over this extended length of time.

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“Our search at Troon Close came about because our investigation identified it as an area of interest. Other areas of interest have also been identified where we will be conducting targeted searches in the coming months.”

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To support the investigation, the public can visit www.finddonna.co.uk to view details about Donna’s life, her disappearance and the police’s on-going investigation.

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