My murdered mum was snatched from pub 20 years ago but killer took secret to the grave… chilling omen told me she died
THE daughter of a woman raped and murdered 20 years ago has revealed the horror moment she realised her mum was never coming home.
Michelle Gunshon was snatched from a Birmingham pub in December 2004 by evil predator Martin Stafford.
The brute raped the mum-of-three then murdered her before he fled to Ireland.
Although Stafford was jailed for life with a minimum of 33 years in 2012, the monster never divulged where Michelle’s body is buried.
He died in prison in 2018 – meaning her family may never be able to bury the security guard.
Now her daughter Tracy Richardson has opened up about her mum’s murder to reveal the moment she knew Michelle was gone.
Speaking to The Sun Online, she said: “We used to chat four of five times a day sometimes, so when I couldn’t contact her I knew something had happened.
“I rang every hospital and place I could think of in Birmingham. I knew there was something horribly wrong.
“After 24 hours, I knew she had died – I just had a feeling.”
Tracy said the rest of her family believed Michelle was still alive at first as police treated the case as a missing person‘s enquiry.
The mum had been staying at the pub while working as a security guard for an event at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC).
A massive search was launched after she vanished with her car found abandoned nearby a few days later.
Police were able to identify Stafford as her killer thanks to DNA found in the vehicle.
CCTV also showed the monster driving Michelle’s car near the city centre two days after she vanished.
Chillingly, it emerged at his murder trial that the killer had been had been jailed previously for rape and false imprisonment.
Then aged 44, Stafford was convicted of murder, false imprisonment, rape and preventing the burial of a body.
In the 20 years since she disappeared, Tracy has faced an agonising wait for answers.
I would like her to be found before – heaven forbid – something happens to me.
Heartbroken Tracy
She has issued yet another heartfelt plea for information in the hope Michelle can be laid to rest.
Tracy said: “My mum’s body has never been found because Stafford wanted to use that final bit of power and control that he had over us by keeping it a secret, even when he was found guilty.
“How are you supposed to grieve when there’s no body? And there are all the other emotions too – anger and frustration.
“I’ve been to Birmingham to search for her and would still be searching today but I don’t know where to start.
“Even the police have know idea where she may be.
“But I would like her to be found before – heaven forbid – something happens to me.”