Cold case police 'suspect murder'

Helen lived with her sister Suzanne and Nigel Veda

Police probing the disappearance of a woman, whose sister and baby niece were killed more than 10 years ago, now say murder is a "strong possibility".

Helen Veda, then aged 25, was last seen in October 1994 at the home she shared with her elder sister Suzanne, 32, in Manby Road, Scunthorpe.

Nigel Veda, now called Wass, was jailed in 1994 for killing Suzanne, and their seven-week-old daughter Ellie.

Humberside Police said they were now looking at a potential murder inquiry.

Det Supt Colin Andrews said: "At the time of Suzanne's death 11 years ago, and the death of baby Ellie, officers made numerous inquiries to locate Helen.

I know how difficult the last decade has been for Helen's parents and it would give them enormous sense of relief if they were able to lay their daughter to rest at long last Det Supt Colin Andrews

"However she was never traced, and now, looking back over the file with the benefit of hindsight, it would appear a very strong possibility that she was murdered.

"We are doing our very best to try to find Helen, whether she is alive or not.

"Sadly, given the passage of time, we fear she is more likely dead than alive, but I know how difficult the last decade has been for Helen's parents and it would give them enormous sense of relief if they were able to lay their daughter to rest at long last."

Missing awning

Detectives have appealed for information on the whereabouts of a tarpaulin that was used in a van that the three frequently travelled around in and, at times, lived in.

The awning went missing at about the same time as Miss Veda, and has never been located.

Police said there was a possibility that the tarpaulin may have been used to dispose of her body.

Mr Andrews said: "While I appreciate Helen's disappearance was more than 10 years ago, somebody, somewhere may recall having seen a large piece of tarpaulin discarded in wasteland or woodland somewhere in the area and assumed it was just a piece of old rubbish."

Officers plan to revisit witnesses who were interviewed at the time of Suzanne's death in a bid to identify any clues that may have been missed a decade ago, a force spokeswoman said.

The detectives working on the investigation are part of a team looking at unsolved cases.