'We'll fight to our dying breath for justice': Donna Keogh's parents mark 26 years without 'baby girl'

Young Donna Keogh dreamed of joining the Royal Navy and following in the footsteps of a proud military family - but all that hope for the future was cut shot 26 years ago.

The bubbly, ambitious girl who was enjoying her life disappeared on this day in 1998 shattering the world of her parents, Brian and Shirley. Donna's body has never been found and no-one has ever been brought to justice. It is the hope that one day both these things will change that keeps her loved ones going as they continue to fight for answers.

Beechwood 17-year-old Donna vanished after visiting a house in Bow Street, Middlesbrough, on April 19, 1998. It is believed she was murdered shortly after.

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Brian said police told them they believed Donna was dead and that her body had been wrapped in a carpet and buried. But, sadly the remains have never been found. Brian said he has accepted that his daughter is dead.

But, for mum Shirley, this is something harder to admit. She said: "I always have hope, even when I know in my heart that she is not here. But, that is how I get by, I have to have something to cling on to. She is loved and remembered every day. We will fight till our dying breath to get justice."

Hugely family orientated, Donna had ambitions of joining the Royal Navy. Brian said his father had served with the Navy in World War II and his brother was a captain in the army.

He said: "Donna was very proud of her uncle. He was once asked to dine with Princess Diana as an unsung hero. Donna wanted to following in her family's military footsteps."

At the time of her disappearance Donna had moved into her older cousin's flat with her and the pair were enjoying being housemates. Shirley said: "They were so close. It was a lovely flat as well." She said Donna's cousin couldn't bear to keep it after she went missing.

The couple say it is the rest of their family, sons Brian, 47 and Michael, 41, and their grandchildren Chanyce, 23, Jimmy 19 and 17-year-old Tia-Rose, that keep them going. Shirley, who longs to have a proper resting place for her daughter, said: "I always say that when Chanyce was born she was the one who saved me. They all have really, we live for our grandchildren, they keep us going."

The first murder inquiry was launched in March 1999 when two men were arrested on suspicion of murder in the search for Donna. Cleveland Police has apologised publicly after admitting mistakes were made in the initial investigation into Donna's death.

At the time of her disappearance, Donna had reportedly attended Bow Street with a friend. A friend of Donna's previously told Teesside Live how there were four men with them in a house, until one of them gave her some cash for cigarettes. The girl didn't go back and said she later heard something bad had happened to Donna.

In 2018, crime scene investigators, forensics officers, police, and landscapers descended on a site in Saltersgill to carry out excavation works in the hope of finding Donna's remains. Brian said the Saltersgill site had been brought up years before it was actually searched and the family has issued numerous complaints about the investigation - 18 in total - which have been referred to the Independent Office of Police Conduct.

He said: "We were told the inquiry would last six years and it will be six years in October." He said hopefully this means they are closer to finding out the truth. Shirley added: "No parents should have to wait 26 years for justice for their child."

A specialist team was established to revisit Donna's case, as well as the unsolved murder investigations regarding two other Teesside women - Vicky Glass and Rachel Wilson - back in 2018. Keith Hall is now serving 18-and-a-half years behind bars for the manslaughter of 19-year-old Rachel after he was finally brought to justice in 2021.

A damning report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire Services (HMICFRS) was produced and noted “poor quality” investigations and failings by the force in relation to all three tragic victims.

Operation Resolute was launched by Cleveland Police’s Historical Investigation Unit in 2016 as part of the investigation to find out what happened to Donna and bring those responsible for her death to justice.

A spokesperson for the force said: “Cleveland Police’s team of detectives is still fully committed to finding out what happened to Donna and continue to pursue significant lines of enquiry in what is a complex investigation. If you have any information about the investigation please contact Cleveland Police on 101 or if you wish to remain anonymous please contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

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