Man jailed for murdering mother who disappeared 28 years ago

A man has been jailed for life after murdering a mother of seven who vanished almost 30 years ago.

Patricia Lashley was living with Trevor Dunkley, who attacked her while she lay in bed in Hall Street, Dudley in 1998, before disposing of her body in household waste months later.

Dunkley, 66, escaped justice for nearly 30 years before his shock confession earlier this year, West Midlands police said.

When the Missing Persons Investigation Team visited him as part of an investigation, he said: “I killed her. I'm sorry.” He was arrested and charged with murder and convicted at Wolverhampton Crown Court in September.

Dunkley claimed that he feared the police were “onto him” as part of the reason why he chose to confess nearly 30 years after the murder. He claimed a “red mist” had come down, which led to him hitting her with his fists in a sudden violent attack.

When Dunkley came home from work that night and found Ms Lashley lying on the bed, he realised she was dead. After keeping her body for several months, he eventually took it down to his cellar before disposing of her skeletal remains with household waste.

Ms Lashley was originally from the North East and also known as Jade and Vanessa. Her body has never been recovered.

In the years following her disappearance, police ran several appeals in the media and online to try and find her, as Dunkley had claimed to social services that she had simply walked out and left him.

Detective Inspector Michelle Cordell, who led the investigation, said: "For years our officers treated this as a missing person investigation, searching thousands of pages of public records and other material in the hope Patricia had simply moved somewhere else to start a new life.

"All that time, Trevor Dunkley knew exactly what had happened. He not only lied about what happened to Patricia, but he kept that a secret for nearly 30 years.

"His calculated plan to dispose of the body was sophisticated and robbed Patricia's family of the opportunity to lay her to rest.

"We will never know the true circumstances around exactly what happened on the day Patricia was murdered, but at least her family now know the man responsible will remain in prison for the rest of his life."

The 66-year-old must serve a minimum of 10 years before he can apply for parole.