Robert Duff: Fresh appeal to find Kilburn father after disappearance ten years ago

A previous search of Hampstead Heath pond failed to uncover clues to Robert Duff’s disappearance
Robert Duff
Met Police
Josh Salisbury12 January 2023
WEST END FINAL

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Police have launched a 10-year anniversary appeal to solve the case of a missing father from Kilburn.

Robert Duff has not been seen or heard from since he failed to attend a celebration for his daughter’s eighteenth birthday on January 12, 2013.

Information given in a previous appeal in 2018 led to officers treating Mr Duff’s out-of-character disappearance as a murder investigation and searching for his body in the No1 pond on Hampstead Heath.

However, no evidence of Mr Duff was found.

Detective Inspector Tom Williams of the Specialist Crime Command said: “Robert’s family desperately longs for answers, and we remain committed to finding him.

“While current lines of inquiry have been exhausted, the case remains unsolved meaning that any new information received would be acted on and thoroughly investigated.

“The search of the No1 pond in Highgate was conducted over a number of weeks, but sadly failed to provide any results.”

In May 2018, two men aged 70 and 51, were arrested on suspicion of murder in Archway and questioned. They were later released with no further action to be taken.

Among the last sightings of Robert, then aged 37, was CCTV footage showing him at an ATM outside Sainsbury’s in Holloway Road on January 12, 2013.

After family reported him missing, officers forced entry to Mr Duff’s flat but could find no trace of him.

Ten years on, detectives now believe someone may be able to shed light on his disappearance.

“Not knowing what has happened to a loved one is a torment that no family should endure,” said Detective Inspector Williams.

“I believe that someone has information about Robert’s whereabouts and why he disappeared so suddenly and it is my sincere hope that someone, who may not have felt able to come forward in 2013, may now be in a position to share with us what they know.

“If you have information please do the right thing – get in touch and help us bring Robert’s family the closure they so desperately need.”

Anyone with information that could assist police is asked to call the incident room on 0208 358 0200 or dial 101.

If you do not want to speak to police, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/

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