"According to a BBC article, the whole family was close and things felt wrong without Stephen. But also things weren't easy for Stephen. And we know some people do suffer in silence." — Ashley Flowers
"I mean, this is the 90s. I mean, how do you not have any record? I truly have no idea." — Ashley Flowers
"Well, it turned out to be written by a woman who had no direct contact with the Clarks and only wrote the letter because she had a feeling that this family she doesn't know murdered Stephen. Not because she had any substantial evidence or information that could actually back up this claim that would go on to destroy their lives." — Ashley Flowers
The episode details the perplexing disappearance of Stephen Clark on December 28, 1992, while walking with his mother, Doris, on a beach in Marske-by-the-Sea, UK. After Stephen briefly entered a restroom at Saltburn Pier, he never reappeared. His mother's initial concern was tempered by his age and independence, leading to a delayed report to the police, who, according to the narrative, also delayed official action due to Stephen being 23. The family, including his former police officer parents, conducted their own searches, facing a frustrating lack of official support and, alarmingly, a reported absence of official records pertaining to the case.
As days turned into weeks and months, Stephen's family clung to scattered potential sightings, some credible, others less so, trying to piece together his whereabouts. The investigation took a dramatic turn years later when a cold case unit reopened Stephen's disappearance, focusing on an anonymous letter from 1999. This led to the arrest of his parents, Doris and Charles Clark, on suspicion of murder, a development that deeply shocked their daughter, Victoria. Despite intense interrogations and searches of the family home, no concrete evidence emerged, and the anonymous letter's author later admitted to having only a "feeling" about the family's involvement.
Ultimately, the Clark parents were cleared of suspicion. The episode highlights the significant impact of this protracted and seemingly flawed investigation on the family, particularly Victoria, who balanced her belief in her parents' innocence with a desire for answers about her brother's fate. The narrative concludes by emphasizing the ongoing efforts of the cold case unit to find Stephen and appeals for any information from potential witnesses, including individuals who may have seen Stephen on the day of his disappearance or interacted with him shortly before.