Surrey teen Ruth vanished in ’95. A shocking discovery about her mother’s death adds a new layer to the cold case.
It’s now almost 30 years since she disappeared. Ruth was considered shy and intelligent. People thought she had a bright future ahead of her. She has never been found. The taxi driver took her to Box Hill, a scenic Surrey spot. He said she wore light clothes for winter, with a red jumper and black trousers. Notably, she lacked a coat in the rain.
The driver felt uneasy as he saw her standing still in the rain. She didn’t move as he drove away. That evening, Ruth didn’t come home, and her parents were worried. Her father, Ian, was a teacher, and his wife, Karen, was a deputy head. They reported her missing to the authorities.
Ruth was expected at school that day for biology and chemistry classes. She usually rode the bus with Jenny, her sister. But that day, she wanted to arrive later. She refused a ride from Will, her ex-boyfriend, though they remained friends.
Instead of going home, she went to Dorking library. She stayed there for hours before visiting Thistles, a florist. There, she ordered flowers for her stepmother, wanting them delivered in two days. She didn’t include a card with the order.
After that, she went to the train station and took a taxi to Box Hill. She was dropped off at 4:30 PM near a pub on a bridleway. That was the last time she was seen by anyone.
Surrey Police searched over 1,000 acres, using dogs, thermal imaging, and a helicopter. A friend named Catherine Mair found it odd that the search started so fast. She noted that teenagers often stay out late.
Catherine wondered what prompted the quick search. She was 17 then and had moved to Sheffield for a fresh start. She and Ruth grew close in sixth form. Catherine described Ruth as shy but also funny. Ruth wanted to join Catherine up north sometime.
Ruth seemed to have a good life. She lived in a cottage with her family, who were well-respected in the community. She did well in school and also sang in a choir and played guitar. Additionally, she even rang church bells and planned to study archaeology.
Her mother, Nesta, died when Ruth was young, at the age of 33. It seemed like an accident. However, Ruth always blamed herself for it. Her father told her she tripped and fell down the stairs.
Catherine said Ruth felt responsible, believing a toy caused her mom’s fall. Another friend also believed it was a toy that led to the accident.
Before she vanished, Ruth researched her mom’s death. She went to a records office in London and obtained a copy of Nesta’s death certificate with Will. They learned a shocking truth: Nesta died by suicide, not an accident.
Catherine said Ruth was overwhelmed and struggled with the discovery. It changed everything she knew. She wondered why her mother did it. Her mother died weeks before Christmas, and Ruth became fixated on finding answers.
Ruth often asked to stay at Catherine’s home because she did not want to go home. Ben Anderton said Ruth ran away a month prior and hid at his house. He said she “wanted to escape.”
The weekend before, Ruth worked at a music shop and went to dinner with Will and a friend. She paid and said, “Remember me by this.” On Sunday, she rang bells and went to youth club. Then she ate dinner at Will’s house before going home.
On Monday, her dad had to leave early due to work, as did Karen, her stepmom. Karen had married her father after Nesta’s death. They didn’t know Ruth hadn’t gone to school. Two days later, flowers arrived. Catherine thinks Ruth sent them “to make a point.”
In December, three notes were found in a bush on Box Hill. One note was for her father, another for her stepmother, and the last one for a friend. Their contents have never been revealed. An empty paracetamol packet and a vermouth bottle were also found there. Police never confirmed this information.
The family appeared on TV shortly after she vanished. One year later, CCTV footage surfaced showing a girl who looked like Ruth in Dorking. She asked for local newspapers. The family thought it was her. In 2006, Ian wrote Ruth an open letter, saying her Christmas gifts waited for her at home.
Catherine was distraught by her friend’s disappearance. She thought Ruth’s family never contacted her, which she considered “odd.” She doubts the CCTV was Ruth because it makes no sense to return on that anniversary. She is still haunted by what happened.
Many friends discuss her case online, questioning why her body was never found and why she sent flowers.
Surrey Police still consider it a missing person case. They keep an open mind about what happened. They have no new evidence, and nothing supports one theory over another.