A male individual is facing charges for the homicide of a woman who disappeared from the West Midlands back in 1998. The accused, Trevor Dunkley, aged 66, has been charged in connection with the death of Patricia Lashley. Patricia was last seen at her residence on Hall Street in Dudley in September 1998, according to a statement from West Midlands Police released on Thursday.

Trevor Dunkley has been placed in custody pending his appearance at Wolverhampton Crown Court scheduled for Monday, as confirmed by the police. Authorities are providing support to Patricia Lashley’s family and are seeking additional information from individuals who were acquainted with her around the time she went missing.

Patricia Lashley, also known as Pat or Jade among friends, was 33 years old when she vanished and had ties to various locations including Newcastle, London, Wales, and Scotland. She used alternative names such as Vanessa and Tricia, as well as the surname Bradford.

Investigators mentioned that Patricia relocated to Dudley in the mid-1990s and frequented establishments like the No Limits club and other pubs in the vicinity. It is believed that she had some level of acquaintance with Trevor Dunkley.

Detective Inspector Michelle Cordell stated, “We are reaching out to anyone who may have had contact with Patricia or Trevor Dunkley. She was a recognizable figure in both Dudley town center and Oldbury. If you have any recollections or information that could aid our investigation, please come forward.”

She added, “Even if you provided information to us during the initial disappearance inquiry, we encourage you to reach out again as we aim to gather as much detail as possible to assist the family in finding closure after almost three decades.”

Individuals with relevant information can contact 101 and reference log 3984 dated July 7.