Missing woman finally declared dead after 13 years

The family of a 96-year-old woman who went missing from Brighton can finally declare her death nearly 13 years after she vanished.

Nellie Herriot was last seen getting off a bus in the Whitehawk area of the city on 23 April, 2012, with her family filing for the declaration of her presumed death in 2020.

Now, Ms Herriot's great nephew George Holland said he had been given a High Court document which will allow his family to "commemorate her life properly and lawfully".

He added: "It's very frustrating and distressing that we don't expect to ever find out what actually happened to her 13 years on.

"What happened to our great aunt remains a baffling mystery but we firmly believe that had she been the victim of an innocent accident her body would have been found pretty quickly."

Ms Herriot, who would now be 109, was believed to have been suffering from dementia when she went missing after alighting from a Brighton and Hove bus.

Sussex Police probed over 70 reported sightings of Ms Herriot but efforts were scaled back in June 2012.

Mr Holland said his family had to wait until 2020 to apply for the declaration of Ms Herriot's presumed death.

He said the "sorry saga" had been "handled appallingly" by the High Court who confirmed in August it had lost documents relating to Ms Herriot's case.

Mr Holland added that he only received the declaration of presumed death order last week despite it being signed in September 2024.

The order will allow Ms Herriot's family to wind up her estate after more than 13 years.

A spokesperson for Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service "wholeheartedly apologised" for delays, adding: "Our thoughts continue to be with the family of Nellie Herriot, and we hope this certificate brings some closure."

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