THE sister of a York woman who disappeared three years ago today has told how the family remains in a limbo.

Lisette Dugmore, of Clifton, has not been seen since she was captured by CCTV cameras in the city centre on July 6, 2008.

Her sister Dion Smith said she no longer believed Lisette was alive, fearing she had ended up in the River Ouse and might have got caught on something in the water.

She said this might explain why her body had never been found, despite searches of the river by police in the weeks after she went missing.

“Lisette was always speaking to Mum and Dad every day or every other day, and she would not have just left them wondering forever what had happened to her,” she said.

“I cannot believe it has been three years. She is still in our thoughts and prayers. We cannot get closure because we cannot hold her funeral – we’re in a limbo. Our parents Frederick and Betty, who are in their 80s are not well, and this isn’t helping.

“Every time someone else goes missing, we know what they are feeling, because we have been in a similar situation.

“It will be another four years before she can be legally pronounced dead. But I can understand that, as some people might leave their families and then turn up alive many years later.”

She said she supported recent calls by Peter Lawrence, father of missing York chef Claudia Lawrence, for more support to be given to families when a loved one went missing, saying she had not heard anything from police for a very long time.

Dion said the family marked the date when Lisette would have celebrated her birthday in February each year.

She said she still hoped someone might have information which might help police find Lisette and bring closure to the family. Police said the case was still open, but further searches would not be carried out unless major new information was brought forward.

• Anyone who may know Lisette’s whereabouts should phone police on 0845 6060247.