Sarah Harper Missing, What Happened to Sarah Harper?
by Sona
Updated Aug 09, 2023
Who was Sarah Harper?
Sarah Harper was a young girl, merely ten years old, residing in the modest Morley locality of greater Leeds. Sadly, her life was cut short due to the actions of serial offender Robert Black. Among the distressing incidents perpetrated by Black, Sarah was one of four innocent schoolgirls who fell prey to his horrifying deeds across the United Kingdom.
Although he was found guilty for four of these deeply disturbing crimes, authorities harbored suspicions that his trail of victims could extend to an alarming count of 18. This heart-wrenching case underscored the tragic fate suffered by Sarah and the magnitude of the threat posed by Robert Black's actions.
Sarah Harper Missing
On the evening of March 26, 1986, Sarah Harper disappeared from her home in the Morley suburbs at around 7:50 pm. She had ventured to a nearby corner shop, just 100 yards away, to buy a loaf of bread. Surveillance indicated that she purchased the bread and a couple of packs of crisps at 7:55 pm.
Sadly, she was last seen by two other girls entering an alley leading toward her residence on Brunswick Place. When she hadn't returned home by 8:20 pm, her family grew concerned, and her mother and sister conducted a brief search before reporting her missing to the West Yorkshire police.
What Happened to Sarah Harper?
Following her disappearance, an extensive search involving over 200 police officers was launched. This included thorough door-to-door inquiries, the search of thousands of properties, distribution of numerous leaflets, and the collection of witness statements. Tragically, four weeks later, Sarah's body was discovered floating in the River Trent near Wilford, Nottingham.
She had suffered significant physical harm, including injuries to her face, forehead, head, and neck before being placed in the water. Sarah had been restrained and silenced before ultimately succumbing to drowning, as revealed by a post-mortem examination conducted between five to eight hours after her abduction.
Sarah Harper Missing Update
In April 3, during a press conference, Sarah's mother, Jackie, made a direct appeal to the abductor, expressing her concern that her daughter might no longer be alive. The subsequent investigation not only led to the grim discovery of Sarah's body but also allowed authorities to establish a connection between her murder and the actions of Robert Black.
Black's reign of terror ended in 1990 when he was arrested near Stow in Scotland, having a six-year-old girl found in his van. While he admitted to abducting her and was found guilty, investigators later linked him to Sarah's murder, as well as two other unsolved cases from the 1980s involving young victims.
Sarah Harper Murder
Sarah Harper's tragic murder was a devastating event that unfolded on the evening of March 26, 1986. The ten-year-old girl disappeared from her Morley home, sparking an extensive search effort involving over 200 police officers. Sadly, her lifeless body was discovered four weeks later in the River Trent near Wilford, Nottingham.
She had suffered severe injuries to her face, forehead, head, and neck before being placed in the water. Investigations eventually linked her murder to serial offender Robert Black, who was responsible for a string of heinous crimes, including the abduction and murder of young victims. Black's reign of terror ended in 1990, leading to his arrest and subsequent conviction for his crimes. He passed away in 2016 while serving multiple life sentences.
Sarah Harper Missing: FAQs
Sarah Harper was a ten-year-old girl tragically victimized by serial offender Robert Black.
On March 26, 1986, Sarah disappeared from her Morley home and was later found murdered in the River Trent, Nottingham.
Her lifeless body was discovered floating in the River Trent near Wilford, Nottingham, four weeks after her disappearance.
Serial offender Robert Black was linked to Sarah's murder, along with other disturbing crimes against young victims.
Robert Black's spree of crimes ended in 1990 with his arrest in Scotland, where a six-year-old girl was found in his van.