Police launch murder probe into missing woman

Paul Pigott
BBC News
South Wales Police Charlene Hobbs staring expressionlessly forward, wearing a blue coat and with her light hair pulled back, against a light-coloured wallSouth Wales Police
Charlene Hobbs, 36, has been missing since July

Police searching for a 36-year-old woman not seen since July have launched a murder investigation.

South Wales Police said the last confirmed sighting of Charlene Hobbs was a photograph of her taken at a property in Broadway, Adamsdown, Cardiff, at 06:07 BST on 24 July 2024.

The force said officers had spoken to more than 250 people about the disappearance, but no-one could say if she was still alive.

"Several of those we have spoken to believe that she has died but no-one has been able to provide any specific details," said Det Ch Insp Matt Powell.

"We have always been determined to find Charlene alive and return her to her family, but despite a huge number of enquiries we have no proof that Charlene is alive," he added.

Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Ms Hobbs' disappearance.

Det Ch Insp Powell previously called Ms Hobbs a "mother, sister, daughter, and a friend to many".

"I still firmly believe that answers lie in the community, and that someone out there holds key information that will help us find Charlene".

A 45-year-old man arrested in connection with the investigation remains on police bail.

A 43-year-old man and 38-year-old woman were released without charge.

South Wales Police Two photos. One is a CCTV image showing Charlene on her phone walking into a store wearing a black strapless dress. The second photo is just of her back, wearing the same dress and looking towards a window blind. You can see her hair is in a bun and she has a tattoo in the middle of her back. South Wales Police
Charlene Hobbs in a CCTV image from a shop in Adamsdown and in a photo from a property in Broadway

Ms Hobbs has a distinctive dragon tattoo on her back.

The day before the last known photograph of her was taken, she was seen on CCTV in a Morrisons store in Adamsdown.

South Wales Police police officers walking on a muddy track beside a drainage channel in a boggy area. South Wales Police
Police search teams have found no trace of Charlene Hobbs
South Wales Police A diver in full diving gear emerges on the shore of a pond full of dark siltSouth Wales Police

Her family said: "We still hope that Charlene can be found safe and well".

"We are grateful for the support of Crimestoppers and the reward to help us find her, and hope that this will help people to come forward with information about what has happened to Charlene."