Elaine Taggart was last seen on January 3, 2008. She was 48 years old at the time.

Elaine Taggart lived in Ferringham Lane, Ferring, England. She is a mother to two children, who were just 11 and 14 at the time of her disappearance. She was a catering finance manager at Brighton College.

She is described as white, 5ft 6in tall, medium build with dark brown hair.

She was last seen on 3 January, 2008, when she gave a colleague a lift home from work. The day after she disappeared, her red Fiat Pinto was found near Goring railway station, just a 5 minute drive away from her home in Ferring, England.

Flyers with Elaine Taggart’s photo were circulated around Goring railway station. Police also conducted a five day search of the nearby countryside. 

Though she was last seen on 3 January, her husband said she packed clothes, her passport and £2000 cash and left their home the next morning (January 4).

In April, 2008, Elaine Taggart’s husband Andy Taggart was arrested on suspicion of her murder, but was later released on bail. He said:

“I was treated as a murder suspect by police, it was scandalous.”

He still lives in the family home stating:

“I want her to know where to find us if she ever does come back.”

In July of 2008, police carried out extensive searches of the family home, focusing on the garden’s of the home. They used specialist mechanical equipment provided by West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. Detective Chief Inspector Adam Hibbert said: 

“We have been continuing our enquiries since Elaine was reported missing in January.

“These searches are the result of intelligence and information we have received.

“Suffice to say our enquiries are ongoing and we are continuing to try to establish what happened to Elaine.”

The police have also conducted searches inside the home, pulling up floorboards and removing items from the home. A building site nearby was also searched. Sniffer dogs have been used to search nearby woods, and searches have also been carried out in the high down area and Worthing Rugby Club’s grounds in Angmering.

10 years later in 2018, a spokesperson for Sussex Police said:

“There are no recent developments to report in the disappearance of Elaine Taggart from Ferring in 2008, and there are no current lines of enquiry.

“At this time her disappearance remains a mystery.

“Although there have been no recent developments we remain convinced, as previously stated, that she either met with an accident or became the victim of a serious crime.”

Anyone with information about Elaine Taggart’s disappearance should call Sussex Police quoting Operation Gordon. Or if you wish to remain anonymous, CrimeStoppers.

Sources:

https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/mothers-disappearance-remains-a-mystery-ten-years-on-1059576

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/husband-arrested-over-missing-woman-6632308.html

https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/missing-ferring-woman-appeal-1292612

https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/2376082.police-return-to-missing-womans-home