What happened to Natalie Putt, when did she disappear and what ‘crucial information’ has been given to police?
Mum Natalie Putt disappeared after going to the shops 14 years ago, leaving her 11-week-old son behind
GRAVES have been dug up in a cemetery as part of a probe into the disappearance of a young mum who vanished 14 years ago.
Here is all you need to know about the mystery surrounding Natalie Putt and the fresh investigation into what happened to her.
What happened to Natalie Putt?
Natalie Putt was 17 when she left her home in Thornleigh, Lower Gornal, West Midland, to go to a local shop - but she never returned.
Natalie had given birth to her son, Rhys, only 11 weeks before she disappeared.
Since then officers have searched land near to her home.
This included underwater searches of rivers and lakes.
But West Midlands Police said no clues were found.
When did Natalie Putt disappear?
Natalie disappeared on September 2003. Subsequent investigations into her whereabouts drew a blank.
The case went cold until three years ago when acting on fresh information, police dug up a paddock in Himley where Natalie kept horses - but, again, the search proved fruitless.
On the 10th anniversary of her disappearance a fresh appeal was launched complete with a computer generated image of what she would look like age 30. Yet this led nowhere.
Then three years ago detectives said there was no evidence she was murdered or that she killed herself.
Natalie would now be aged 30.
What "crucial information" has been given to police?
Cops investigating the case have confirmed they have received "crucial information" from a mystery caller.
Detective Inspector Ian Iliffe, of West Midlands Police, said: “We have received a phone call from a man in a telephone box in the Lake Street area of Gornal with specific information that has the potential to lead to the person responsible for Natalie’s death.
“This crucial information could help us solve this mystery and give Natalie’s family the answers they need.
“I would urge that person to contact us again and we will ensure the information they have is treated with the strictest confidentiality.”
Why are police exhuming graves?
Officers are now acting on new information which they believe could help solve the mystery and have launched a murder enquiry.
Detective Inspector Iliffe said: “All cases are periodically reviewed and the disappearance of Natalie has led us to believe that we are looking at a murder enquiry.
“Following a review of the information we have received, we have been granted permission to exhume a number of graves in Ruiton Cemetery off Duke Street in Upper Gornal.”
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