Missing mum: Patricia Duncan with her kids
Patricia Duncan, 51, vanished without a trace from her family home in Buckie, Banffshire, in the early hours of November 16, 2002. While her family were sleeping she walked out of her front door into a wild storm - taking only her coat and a packet of cigarettes.
Her husband of 28 years, George, and her four daughters became worried as soon as they couldn’t find her in the house, and called the police.
Over 30 police officers conducted a full search of the area, every garden, shed and outhouse. An underwater search team looked by the sea wall, tracker dogs were sent to sniff out a body. The coastguard was also alerted.
The family assisted with the search, driving and walking through the countryside shouting for their mother in the rain. They found no clues as to where she was.
Her family have refused to give up on the hope that she is still alive, and have travelled not just nationwide but as far as Malta to follow up possible sightings. The sisters are convinced their mum did not get swept out to sea. They are just as sure she hasn’t been murdered either.
Her daughters worry she may have had a breakdown, it being reasoned that the stress of being an accountant for her husband, caring for elderly in-laws and the seven grandchildren may have got on top of her.
In the past, the Duncans have fostered some 20 children for the local social work department. As a family unit, they’ve been described as “rock-solid”.
It’s not only a mystery as to where Pat has gone, but why. Her disappearance was completely out of character – her family are worried for her well-being.
Pat's family
- Johan, 31, wants to know why her mum left. She can’t understand how the woman who brought them all up to be a close family would leave without saying a word. Johan would spend most mornings with her mum, drinking tea watching telly and having a gossip. Johan does not believe mum was unwell at the time of her disappearance – she has a photo of her son and mother together taken the week before she vanished. She says this image proves mum was happy, very happy.
- Louise, 38, is the eldest daughter but never moved out of the family home. She was close to her Mum, having lived with her for so long. Louise claims her mum always left a note if she was heading out, and can’t understand why mum just walked out without saying where she was going. She describes Pat as “More than just a Mum”.
- Fiona, 27, remembers how foul the weather was when her mother vanished. Fiona was one of the first to head out and look for her missing mum by driving to the neighbouring villages. She couldn’t get down some roads as they were flooded and the sea was crashing over the defences. What she can’t understand is why her Mum would go out in that sort of weather.
- George, 62, was Pat’s husband of 28 years when she vanished. He is convinced she is alive. After eight years apart he finds it tough to go home and spends many days working away. He admits the loss of Pat has cost his daughters a father too. He actively pursues any sighting of his missing wife. George wants to appeal for Pat to come forward. He believes she’s sleeping rough - he wants to help her financially so she can come home when she’s ready…
