Gwent | Archive | 2002 | September | 4
From the South Wales Argus, first published Wednesday 4th Sep 2002.
POLICE are searching ground in Germany looking for the missing daughter of an Abergavenny man.
Louise Kerton, aged 24, pictured, disappeared on July 30 last year in Germany while staying with her fiance Peter Simon.
She was last seen at Aachen station, near Cologne, after Peter's mother Ramana Simon dropped her off.
She was due to get a train to Ostend and then a ferry to England, but nothing has been seen of her since.
Around 180 officers were searching ground and quarries with sniffer dogs and cliff rescue teams on the outskirts of Strassfield where Louise, was staying with the family of Peter.
Louise's family said again last night that they believed the 24-year-old, who disappeared on July 30 last year, was dead but added that the new search may help bring "closure".
Strassfield police spokesman Robert Dellel said the "routine" search was not focusing on any property.
He said 180 officers were searching land in Strassfield, and added: "They are looking for clues about Louise or a body. I cannot say how long the operation will last, maybe three or four days.
"It is a routine search and they are only looking on land and fields and other areas - not at houses."
Last night her father Phil Kerton, who is originally from Abergavenny but now lives in Kent with his wife Kath, said family members were "dismayed and upset" that they were not officially told of the search.
He added: "The German police have not seen fit to inform us despite the fact that a local reported claims to have seen 200 officers searching areas in Strassfeld, where Louise was staying. It is upsetting.
"We understand they are searching sand pits, beauty spots and fields and will presumably question certain people.
"We have had no official confirmation of the search. We were given a number by the German Ambassador in London which he said we could call day or night but no one seems to be answering that.
"It is about time a search was conducted.
"It is the right thing to do to go back and search the place where she was last seen. We have always said this should be done.
"If the police could assure us that they had made a very thorough search of the area it would be a first step forward for us in finding some answers."
© Newsquest Media Group 2008