It’s the most terrifying nightmare for every parent: turning away for just a moment and losing a child in that fleeting instant.
For many, it’s a gut-wrenching moment that is swiftly followed by a rush of relief a few minutes later. However, for the Lee family, the fear has persisted since their young daughter Katrice disappeared from a shopping center in 1981.
‘She was just two years old when she went missing,’ Richard, Katrice’s father, recounts to Metro. ‘What kind of child was she? She was very playful and at times a bit stubborn. There was a five-year difference between Katrice and her older sister Natasha, yet they adored each other immensely.
‘I vividly remember a day when they were playing hide and seek. Katrice had squeezed behind some large, flowing curtains, but her tiny feet were sticking out. We could easily spot her, but she believed she was hidden. Natasha walked in and teased, “Oh, I can’t find Katrice; I guess I’ll look somewhere else.” She was incredibly protective of her little sister.’
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Richard, 75, explains: ‘We eventually discovered that there was a profitable operation involving the sale of children to the east. I also heard accounts of nuns in Italy selling children during the 1980s.
‘This information surfaced years later, yet these avenues were never pursued by the authorities. From the very beginning, we have been met with a lack of transparency and honesty. I still seek clarity on who concluded in 1981 that Katrice entered the river. Was there any evidence to support this claim?
‘I only wish the police had sought to connect the pieces from the start, rather than waiting 36 years to do so.’
In 2000, Katrice’s case was reexamined under the title ‘Operation Bute.’ That same year, Crimewatch featured a reenactment of the disappearance on what would have marked her 21st birthday in November. A suspect was detained but later released without any charges being filed.
An unidentified woman conveyed a cryptic message to Richard, stating ‘search for your daughter in France,’ but this lead produced no results.
In 2012, the Royal Military Police acknowledged that errors were made during the initial investigation, prompting a second reopening of the case. The River Alme was identified as a location of interest, due to new information indicating that a green saloon vehicle—similar to one spotted at the NAAFI shopping center on the day Katrice disappeared—had been observed in the vicinity.
In 2017, five years later, an e-fit of a man whom the police hoped to consult was made public. The subsequent year, a collaboration of military personnel and civilian forensic specialists declared their intent to excavate a section of the riverbank along the River Alme. Hopes were raised in 2019 when an individual in Swindon was apprehended ‘in relation to Katrice Lee’s disappearance.’ However, the man, a former serviceman, was released two days later without any charges brought against him.
‘The family was never kept adequately informed,’ Richard remarks. Although he divorced Sharon in 1989, they remain united in their quest for Katrice. He adds, ‘During the River Alme search in 2018, police discovered bone fragments which were sent for analysis. Sharon and Natasha felt anxious for about six weeks, but I was certain they did not belong to Katrice.
‘DNA tests confirmed that they were indeed from a horse. However, we didn’t learn this from the police; they shared the information on Twitter before informing us. Friends called to inform us that the bones weren’t Katrice’s. It was two hours later when a police liaison officer called to update us with their findings and to apologize for yet another oversight.’
In 2020, the Royal Military Police decided to halt further investigations concerning Katrice’s disappearance.
‘Please remember my story’
Sharon composed a poem for her daughter, which was included in the Missing People campaign ‘Everything Stops For Tea’. You can read or view it below
‘Please remember my story,
Do keep my face in your mind,
For I am a child who disappeared without a trace,
Away from my family who lives filled with despair,
Away from my loved ones,
Do you know where I am?
Months and years won’t lessen their agony,
They endure with the hope of reuniting with me one day.
‘I’ve been taken by someone, do you know who?
‘Please assist me, I’m lost and depending on you.’
Throughout years of anguish, the Lee family has benefitted from the assistance of the charity Missing People. Natasha, who incorporated a button from one of Katrice’s cardigans into her wedding gown, has collaborated closely with the charity to maintain her sister’s name in the public eye.
‘Previously, we had no one to turn to regarding our experiences,’ Richard, who was released from the Army in 1999, elaborates.
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‘The charity has been incredibly helpful; we are grateful for their knowledge and support. Natasha introduced Katrice’s case to Missing People, which led to coverage on Channel 5. We both engage in fundraising efforts; I sell car decals and t-shirts.’
Richard hopes to meetSir Keir Starmer took a day to address his daughter’s situation. In May 2024, he made his way to Downing Street, seeking to return his military medals to the British Army as a protest against how his daughter’s case has been managed. Outside Number 10, he donned a black t-shirt featuring Katrice’s image, displaying the words ‘STILL MISSING’ prominently above her likeness. Richard was informed that he could not return his medals since they were classified as personal items.
Later that year, he along with Natasha journeyed to Germany, to the precise location where the young girl went missing. There, a photographic exhibition titled ‘Missing Katrice’ was held, as the NAAFI supermarket has since transformed into an art gallery. He continues to hope for answers regarding his daughter’s fate.
‘My objective is to uncover the truth. It’s as straightforward as that,’ Richard, who lives by himself, states. ‘I’ve never given up hope; hope is everlasting. It is the last beacon for any family with a missing child. Hope never fades away.’
A spokesperson for the MOD stated: ‘Our thoughts and condolences are with Katrice Lee’s family. If anyone possesses any new information concerning Katrice’s disappearance, we urge you to contact us at 0800 616 888.’
‘The Defence Serious Crime Unit took over the investigation into Katrice Lee’s disappearance in 2022, and we continue to seek new evidence.’
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