North East mum, 72, missing in France for over six weeks as family in frantic search

Stephanie Thomson was last seen by her husband Ken on Thursday, January 29, and there have been no sightings since

A distraught family have issued an urgent plea for help in locating their relative who has vanished in France for over six weeks. Stephanie Thomson was last seen by her husband Ken on Thursday, January 29, with no confirmed sightings reported since.

Stephanie, aged 72, moved from Redcar to France alongside Ken in 2012 following the pair’s deep affection for the nation developed during previous holidays. The couple were enthusiastic ramblers who completed two 5km walks daily, until Ken became unwell during the Christmas period and received a lung cancer diagnosis.

On the morning of her disappearance, the pair had attended a nearby supermarket before returning to their mobile home at the Camping Les Vigères site in Le Chalard. Ken drifted off to sleep and, upon waking, discovered Stephanie had vanished.

She left without taking any possessions, including money, bank cards or her mobile telephone. Comprehensive searches of pathways and waterways, utilising drones, diving teams, canine units and aerial support, have been conducted throughout the vicinity where the couple previously enjoyed their walks together.

Their daughter Tracy has remained in France providing support to Ken whilst the search operation persists. Speaking to Teesside Live, she explained her mother’s disappearance is “completely out of character”.

Enquiries are being undertaken by the gendarme, France’s police force, though Stephanie acknowledged they are currently speculating regarding potential scenarios.

“They got up in the morning and went to the local supermarket,” she said. “The only CCTV is at the gate of the campsite where they live and it shows them leaving for the supermarket and and coming back and there was nothing after that.

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“So they came back, mum must have had a bite to eat, and dad fell asleep. When he woke up later in the afternoon she was gone.”

Her parents frequently strolled the woodland trails around Chalard and Ladignac Le Long areas until Ken became unwell. It’s believed Stephanie might have embarked on a walk along a path that originates from the rear of the campsite.

“On the face of it it just looks like she’s gone for a walk. Initially we thought maybe she’s fallen,” expressed Tracy, 55.

“They’ve had search dogs out twice and they couldn’t find a definite trail, because there is that much scent of her around there already.

“The gendarme said the next step is to bring out the search dogs that hunt for dead people but that hasn’t been done as yet from what I’ve heard. There’s nowhere around there she could slide down and be out of sight, and if she had fallen and bumped herself she would have been found laid in the path – someone would have seen her.

“We did buy a drone ourselves and went further than Mum and Dad walked. But there’s nothing.”

Tracy maintains contact with the local police who are exploring all potential scenarios. “They had a look to see if mum had been moving money around,” she stated.

“They’ve been married for 56 years and do everything together, so they had to look at the possibility that it’s become too hard for her. We had a look with my dad at her bank statements and there was nothing that indicated anything like that. She could have been picked up in a car but speaking to my dad she never went anywhere without him, it’s so random.

“The police have to consider did she get help to leave or was she picked up by someone with the wrong intentions? She left here with no money, no passport, no driving licence, no cash, credit cards, no mobile phone.”

Stephanie and Ken are parents to two children, grandparents to four and great-grandparents to four more. Ken spent several years working as a manager at British Steel, whilst Stephanie was employed at filling stations throughout the Redcar vicinity.

Tracy described the pair as “very sociable” and noted they’re familiar faces both in their adopted French community and amongst fellow motorhome enthusiasts touring the region. Notices and leaflets have been circulated extensively throughout the locality and online platforms, with hopes that somebody might hold information regarding her mother’s whereabouts.

“All I keep thinking is she must be out there somewhere because we’ve not found her and the more people that see it, the better,” Tracy explained. “She could have had a breakdown, she might not know who she is any more. It’s just so out-of-character for her.

“The family couldn’t be here all the time because of our own lifestyle and I feel like she must have felt she was really alone.”

An emotional Tracy continued: “It was my birthday on the 11th and I had hoped she would get in touch but she didn’t. It’s just so hard.”

Anyone with information about Stephanie or who has been in contact with her is encouraged to reach out to the Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche police on +33 555 750 036.

She is described as having a slim build and was last seen wearing a light blue down jacket, dark trousers and black or grey boots.