Family beg missing mother, 44, last seen one year ago to 'come home'

Family beg missing mother, 44, last seen one year ago to ‘come home’ – as police release photos of her two rucksacks which were found in a park

Denise Jarvis vanished near Southey Park in Kingswood, Bristol one year ago

The family of a mother who vanished a year ago today are begging her to ‘come home’ as police launch another appeal to find her.

Denise Jarvis, 44, was last seen exactly one year ago in the area of Southey Park in Kingswood, Bristol on the evening of August 3 after having a row with her father.

Her family say she took five bags with her when she disappeared, but only two of her rucksacks have been found by police.

Now, a year after searching for Ms Jarvis, her loved ones – who have displayed missing posters as far away as Thailand – are urging her and anyone with information about her whereabouts to come home.

‘Just come home,’ her sister Rachel Graham told BBC today, adding that her disappearance has left ‘a gap’ in their family.

Denise Jarvis, 44, (pictured) was last seen exactly one year ago in the area of Southey Park in Kingswood, Bristol on the evening of August 3 after having a row with her father

Her family say she took five bags with her when she disappeared, but only two of her rucksacks (pictured) have been found by police. Officers released two images of the bags today in a bid to appeal for information from the public

Ms Graham, speaking on the first anniversary of her sister’s disappearance, revealed that at the time she vanished the family had thought ‘she’s just cooling off, she’s going to come home’.

But now, she said they ‘can’t believe we’re here, at a year, and she’s not here’.

She shared how it took Avon and Somerset Police three months before they started to ‘worry’ about her sister – a claim police have seemingly confirmed by stating that it wasn’t until months passed that ‘risk heightened’ in her case.

Ms Jarvis’ mother Bernadette Lake said today that her daughter disappeared after the family tried to get her mental health help, prompting a fight with the missing woman’s father.

‘We tried pushing her so she’d do something about her mental health but she didn’t know she was ill,’ Ms Lake told the BBC. ‘So it was quite difficult.’

The worried mother revealed that her family as posted missing persons posters around the world in hopes that Ms Jarvis may be found.

She added: ‘We just don’t know because we haven’t got the pathway of where she went from that park.’

Ms Lake said she will ‘never forget’ her daughter and thinks of her every day but is trying not to let the case ‘consume’ her, adding that at some point ‘you’ve got to go on’ and ‘you have to take the posters off’.

Ms Jarvis’ mother Bernadette Lake said today that her daughter disappeared after the family tried to get her mental health help, prompting a fight with the missing woman’s father. CCTV shows that Ms Jarvis was wearing a grey, thigh-length sleeveless coat when she vanished

‘We tried pushing her so she’d do something about her mental health but she didn’t know she was ill,’ Bernadette Lake said today. ‘So it was quite difficult.’ Ms Lake is pictured with her missing daughter, Denise Jarvis

Meanwhile, police say they are ‘really concerned’ about Ms Jarvis, whom they have ‘no trace of whatsoever’.

There is no evidence that the missing woman has used her phone or bank account. And despite extensive searches of Southey Park and the surrounding areas, she has still not been located.

Senior Investigating Officer Det Chief Insp Ben Lavender said that while they have ‘considered everything’, police have ‘not got any concerns about anyone that knew her’.

He said that although his concerns are growing, he still has ‘hope for a positive outcome’.

Today his force released two images of her rucksacks that were found at the park in a bid to appeal for information from the public.

He said: ‘We want to use this first anniversary as a reminder that we’re still appealing for information from the public.

‘People have annual routines and events they may attend, so we’d ask them to think back to the same time last year to see if that jogs their memories. Every piece of information is important in our efforts to find out what happened to Denise.’

Det Insp Lavender reiterated that he knows how ‘devastating this continues to be for Denise’s loved ones’ and said officers’ ‘thoughts remain very much with them’.

‘We know how devastating this continues to be for Denise’s loved ones and our thoughts remain very much with them.

Police say they are ‘really concerned’ about Ms Jarvis, (pictured) whom they have ‘no trace of whatsoever’. There is no evidence that the missing woman has used her phone or bank account. And despite extensive searches of Southey Park and the surrounding areas, she has still not been located

A thorough investigation has seen officers complete more than 700 actions and speak to more than 90 of Ms Jarvis’ contacts in the hope of finding her.

Extensive searches of the area where she was last seen have also been carried out.

Det Insp Lavender has now called on anyone who knows where Ms Jarvis is or have seen or spoken with her after August 3, 2022 to call 999 quoting reference 5222186376, or call 101 with any other information.

Police have also set-up an online portal featuring the appeal, which will allow people to send information direct to officers working on this investigation.

The officer added: ‘Our investigation will be subject to regular reviews and we’re ready to respond to any new lines of enquiry which come in.’

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