08/10/2012

Renewed Search For 'Murdered' Teenager

The search for a young teenager believed to have been murdered has been renewed.

Caroline Graham, originally from Newry, went missing in 1989 from her home in Portadown when she was 19. She had been living with her boyfriend at the time.

Her body was never found and no-one was ever charged with her murder.

Detectives who worked on the case at the time have now renewed the investigation, which is focussing on waste ground in the Carleton Street area of Portadown.

The investigation will attempt to locate some of the young woman’s remains.

Detective Chief Inspector Gary Crawford,who is heading the investigation, said: "This stage of the operation will involve clearing away shrubbery and undergrowth so that we can insert probes into the ground to determine the possible existence of human remains.

"We will have a range of assets on site to assist us in what could be a protracted operation. These will include a body recovery dog, earth moving machinery and specialist scanning equipment.

"Our search advisors will be working with other specialists from a variety of disciplines to determine as definitively as possible whether Caroline's remains are buried at this location.

"Police have searched this site previously but science and technology have advanced in recent years to such an extent that we believe it is important to deploy the latest technology and resources in this case."

The family has released a previously unpublished picture of Caroline in the hope that someone might come forward with new information.

(IT/GK)

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