The daughters of a woman who vanished more than seven years ago have issued an emotional plea for information as they ask their mother to come home.
Stefana Otilia Malinici, 45, has not been seen by family or friends since leaving her home on Beccles Drive, Barking, on Wednesday, September 6, 2017.
The Romanian national, who is known as Otilia, was 37 years old at the time of her disappearance and had been working as a cleaner in London.
She was last seen on CCTV visiting a shop on Green Lane, Ilford, on Monday, September 9, 2017.
Officers also believe Otilia may have boarded the number five bus at 10.14pm from Wood Lane, Dagenham, on Tuesday, September 10, 2017.
Since then, police have not been able to trace Otilia and she has not made any contact with her husband or children.
As detectives appeal for new information on her whereabouts, Otilia’s daughters are desperate for their mother, who they have ‘grown up without’, to ‘return home’.
In a statement, they said: ‘It has now been more than seven years without our mother. We have grown up without her and miss her every day.
Stefana Otilia Malinici (above) has not been seen by family or friends since leaving her home on Beccles Drive, Barking, on September 6, 2017
‘She always brings support and love for anyone who needs it, even strangers and she always tries to cheer people up.
‘We appeal to the public for anyone to come forward if they know anything about her or her whereabouts. We also appeal to her directly, please return home to us.’
Otilia was last seen wearing a black top with a large light coloured motif, dark tight jeans or leggings tucked into flat dark, mid-calf length boots, and a dark coloured three-quarter length fitted jacket.
She is said to have had reddish hair in a bob style at the time.
Police also say Otilia is ‘vulnerable’ and that they cannot rule out the possibility that she has come into physical harm.
Detective Chief Inspector Kam Sodhi, from the Met’s East Area Public Protection unit, said: ‘It is now more than seven years since Otilia was reported missing and we are continuing our work to find out where she is.
The Romanian national (above), who is known as Otilia, was 37-years-old at the time of her disappearance and had been working as a cleaner in London
‘While there is no evidence to suggest that Otilia has come to physical harm, we cannot rule this out.
‘Her family here in the UK and in Romania are still carrying on their daily lives without knowing where their loved one is. Her daughters have grown up without their mother, so we urge anyone who may know Otilia, or where she is, to come forward without further delay.
‘We ask anyone who has provided shelter or support to Otilia to also please contact police. Even if this was not recently, we want to hear from you.’
Officers urged anyone with information on her whereabouts to call police on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, quoting 01/1106106/24.
