Nicola Payne became the focal point of one of the largest investigations in the history of the West Midlands police when she was reported missing in December 1991.
To this day no trace of Nicola has been found.
The hunt for more information has not ceased and her family continue to look into and question this mysterious and controversial case, the circumstances of her disappearance and the manner in which the authorities have handled it.
Nicola Payne was a young lady on the verge of a new and exciting phase of her life but on a cold and foggy day in December 1991, she left her boyfriend’s house and was never seen again.
The mystery of Nicola’s disappearance has haunted the city of Coventry for nearly three decades and would have been like many missing person cases that are forgotten over time but for the perseverance and dogged determination of her family.
This story is now exposed to a wider audience to expose the truth and bring justice for Nicola Payne.
The time has come.
Nicola leaves her boyfriend Jason Cooke's home in Winston Avenue, Coventry, to walk a 5 minute journey to her parents across land known as ‘The Black Pad’. She leaves her 7 month old son Owen with Jason.
Nicola was to meet her father, John, with keys for her new home in Gayer Street, Coventry.
John arrives home. There are no keys. John calls the Cooke family to see where Nicola is.
John wakes Nicola's brother Dale at 13:00pm and asks if he has seen Nicola.
Marilyn, Nicola's mother, receives a call from John asking if she has heard or seen Nicola as she has not arrived home.
Dale goes out to look for Nicola.
Scott, Nichola's brother, arrives at his parents house and joins them in a search across the Black Pad.
The Police are called to Nicola's parents’ house. Their concern is initially dismissed as ‘a teen runaway’
Scott returns about 07:00am to his parents' house to start the search again with his father.
Detective Malcolm Ross and the West Midlands police launch their biggest investigation with over 80+ officers involved.
Nigel Barwell and Thomas O’Reilly are arrested
During a helicopter search of the local area, a tent is spotted
Tent, inner tent and awning found in Ventnor Close, Coventry.
West Midlands police release a reconstruction of Nicola’s last moments
100 West Midlands police including an underwater search team and mounted police hunt sewers, drains and waste ground.
Nicola’s 19th birthday
Christopher Parker charged with hoax calls at Coventry magistrates
Second intensive police search exactly one month after Nicola disappeared
Tent added to exhibits log in police records
Police consider if Nicola Payne and Barbara Finn have a connection to missing estate agent Stephanie Slater.
Christopher Parker pleads guilty for wasting police time and three nuisance calls regarding Nicola Payne
Nigel Barwell and Thomas O’Reilly are not identified in a police ID parade.
Bail charged on the suspects Nigel Barwell & Thomas O’Reilly
Owen’s first birthday
Psychic in Manchester tells the family Nicola is alive in the Potteries, North Staffordshire
Police appeal for information with £5000 reward as the one year anniversary approaches
Press conference is held on the first anniversary of Nicola’s disappearance
The band Soul Asylum features Nicola’s photo in their music video for Runaway Train in association with the Missing Persons Bureau.
Police frogmen search 50 yards of Coventry Canal near Ansty after a tip-off by a clairvoyant.
Police interview Michael Sams, the kidnapper of Stephanie Slater & murderer of Julie Dart. He denies involvement with Nicola.
150 volunteers take part in the search for Nicola, organised by Will Markham.
Police and volunteers search the Coventry canal at Longford
The police conduct an extensive search of a house in Woodway Lane, Coventry, 150 yards from Nicola’s home, but nothing is found
The police search part of the Oxford Canal in Ansty
Bones found close to disappearance site are identified as animal remains
Poster campaign launch to highlight Nicola’s case
BBC’s ‘Missing’ programme features an appeal for information alongside an image of what Nicola would have looked like 14 years after her disappearance
National Missing Persons t-shirts printed with Nicola’s image
A Major Investigation Unit re-opens the case into Nicola’s disappearance with new lines of enquiry as an appeal for information is launched
Key pieces of evidence, including Nicola’s hairbrush, are declared lost
37 year old Malcolm Brannan is arrested in Derbyshire.
Police search a garden in Winston Avenue, Coventry but nothing is found
Detective Martin Slevin leads the investigation as the inquiry is re-opened
The police excavate parkland at Courthouse Green/Purcell Road, Coventry but nothing is found
Patrick Judge and his son Keith are arrested as part of the investigation while their garden is searched in Bell Green, Coventry. Nothing is found
The Judges’ are released and later charges are dropped
Another appeal for information on two men seen close to the Black Pad is made on the 21st anniversary of Nicola’s disappearance
The new appeal provides 25 new leads in the case. Police ask for more information on a Ford Capri.
Nigel Barwell and Thomas O’Reilly declared suspects by Detective Slevin
Nigel Barwell and Thomas O’Reilly are arrested again and released on bail
Police search a nature reserve near Binley, Coventry
The tent is re-discovered in police storage
The tent is sent for forensic examination
Police officers and dogs search Coombe Abbey Country Park, Coventry
Nigel Barwell and Thomas O’Reilly are charged with the murder of Nicola Payne
Police search Hales industrial estate near Rowley’s Green, Coventry
The trial of Nigel Barwell and Thomas O’Reilly begins
Nigel Barwell & Thomas O’Reilly are found not guilty of Nicola Payne’s murder