Steven Clark cold case: Parents arrested on suspicion of son’s murder in 1992

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The elderly parents of a disabled man who disappeared almost 30 years ago have been arrested on suspicion of his murder.

Steven Clark, aged 23 at the time, was last seen using toilets near Saltburn Pier in Yorkshire during a family trip to the seaside on 28 December 1992.

A missing persons report said Mr Clark entered the men’s toilets while his mother went into the women’s at the same time, but there was no sign of him coming out, and he did not return to the family home in nearby Marske.

His parents Doris, 81, and Charles, 78, who were arrested and later bailed, confirmed their detention, describing it as “absolutely ludicrous”.

Mrs Clark said that she and her husband “absolutely” denied murdering their son and added that being on bail was “horrendous”.

She reported Steven missing on the day of his disappearance but was told to wait 72 hours in case he had left of his own accord. 

Police officers from the Cleveland and North Yorkshire cold case unit reopened an investigation into the circumstances of his disappearance earlier this year.

Detective Chief Inspector Shaun Page said there were “many question marks” over the case.

“As a result of our initial reinvestigation and the fact that there is no proof of life, we believe that Steven has come to harm,” he said.

“I appreciate that we’re asking people to think back to the 1990s, but there may be people who knew Steven and have information that may prove vital to this case. I would urge them to come forward.”

Steven walked with a pronounced limp as a result of a childhood road accident, which also left him with other impairments.

Shortly before he went missing, he was named apprentice of the year at the Rathbone Society in Redcar, which worked with people with disabilities to improve their employment skills.

Additional reporting by Press Association