The mother of a woman missing with two of her childhood friends in South Wales has claimed police officers told her to ‘stop ringing’ for updates, leading her to take the search into her own hands along with other friends and relatives.
Three women and two men are missing for a second day after a night out at a bar in Newport, as families say they are ‘worried sick’ – and accused police of ‘not taking it seriously’ until now.
Sophie Russon, Eve Smith, and Darcy Ross, all 20 years old, were at the Muffler bar and club in Maesglas in Newport, south Wales, on Friday evening, before they are believed to have headed to Trecco Bay in Porthcawl.
According to reports, the trio were with Shane Loughlin and Rafel Jeanne. The two men are thought to be from Cardiff.
Relatives of the three women said none of them have been seen or heard from since 2am on Saturday, and that none of them have been active on social media.
Sophie Russon, 20, is missing alongside two other women and two men. Family say they are ‘worried sick’ and have appealed for help in finding them
Eve Smith, 20, is also missing. Relatives of the three women said none of them have been seen or heard from since 2am on Saturday and none of them have been active on social media
Darcy Ross, 20, has also disappeared. The group are missing for a second day after a night out at a bar in Newport
The three women were at the Muffler bar and club in Maesglas in Newport on Friday evening before friends believe they headed to Trecco Bay in Porthcawl with Shane Loughlin (pictured) and one other man who is also believed to be missing
People on social media have speculated that Rafel Jeanne could also be one of the missing people
Sophie’s mother Anna Certowicz, 42, was driving around the Gwent and Cardiff areas late into Sunday night in a desperate search for her daughter.
She told the Daily Mail: ‘They didn’t seem to care. I had to drive to Cardiff to knock on doors myself because they were doing sod all. They just didn’t seem to think didn’t think it was worth investigating. It was so frustrating.
‘I think they assumed that Sophie was hungover somewhere, but she’s a sensible girl who works in a bank and hasn’t taken a day off for three years.
‘She’s not someone who’s out clubbing in Cardiff all the time. On Friday nights she’s more likely to be babysitting so other people can go out. She wouldn’t just vanish like this unless something was wrong.
‘The police asked me to stop ringing but at the end of the day I’m a mum I’m going to worry. Her little sister is worrying too, she’s only 13 and she’s wondering where Sophie is.’
Gwent Police have been contacted for comment.
Ms Certowicz said that Sophie, 20, has known Eve and Darcy since childhood.
‘They’re incredibly close, they message every day. We worked out earlier that this is the first time in 347 days that Sophie hasn’t replied to her.
‘Sophie, Eve, and Darcy have been friends since they were ten years old, I know the families and they haven’t heard anything either.’
The last time Ms Certowicz says she spoke to Sophie was on Friday afternoon when she was told that her daughter was going out for a few drinks at the local pub.
‘I’m going to stay out all night looking for her, I know I can’t sleep and I just need to find her.’
Locals have been driving between Newport and Cardiff in a desperate search. Some have been searching lanes nearby and some have even begun to enquire in nearby hotels.
Family members of the missing girls have said it is very unusual of them not to be in touch with their families for this length of time.
Ms Smith’s car is still at the Muffler club, according to her sister Lauren Doyle.
In a post Ms Doyle said: ‘It is known that they went to the Muffler in Maesglas and then went to Trecco Bay on Friday night but left there to an unknown location during the night.
‘They were last seen at approximately 2am.
‘None of them have made contact with friends or family, which is very unusual. We are all worried sick and thinking the worst.’
She later added that Ms Smith’s belongings, including her car keys and bank card, were with their mother, meaning she has no access to transport or funds.
Emma Jane also took to Facebook to track the trio down.
‘None of them have made contact with friends or family, which is very unusual’, she wrote. We are all worried sick and thinking the worst.’
Tori Preece, Ms Russon’s aunt, added: ‘My niece and her friends have been missing since Friday night. There has been no contact and no social media presence since the early hours of Saturday morning.
‘They were at the Muffler in Maesglas until around 11:15 then went to Trecco Bay until around 2am (it is believed). They are not girls who take unnecessary risks and are always in close contact with their families.
‘All of the families involved are extremely concerned. The Police are involved and they have been recorded as missing persons.’
A relative of Shane Loughlin has also said he is missing and his family are working with the police to try to locate him.
A post has also been shared in a local sea fishing group, with the author urging members to get in touch if they spot anything.
‘Guys if anyone has seen anything, can you contact the numbers shown or the police please,’ it reads. ‘Families of all the missing are worried sick. Last seen leaving Trecco Bay around 2am on Saturday morning.’
A spokesperson for Trecco Bay Holiday Park said: ‘We are aware of reports of five missing people. None of these people were registered guests at the park, however we are assisting police with their enquiries.’
A Gwent Police spokesperson said the force is investigating. It is believed that South Wales Police, the force which covers the Porthcawl area and beyond, is also part of the investigation.
