North Yorkshire Police have issued an urgent appeal to confirm the safety of a young woman and her baby boy.
Natalie Foster, 18, and her seven-month-old son Robert, live at the Seamer Caravan Site in the Stokesley area.
However, following a violent incident at the location in which a 43-year-old man was seriously assaulted at about 5pm on Friday 22 July 2011, neither Natalie or baby Robert have been seen or heard since.
Two men, aged 30 and 20 from Middlesbrough, have been arrested in connection with the serious assault and remain in police custody.
Enquiries are ongoing to trace one other man, Natalie’s 22-year-old husband Robert Henry Foster, who is from the Southbank area of Middlesbrough.
At this time, the primary concern for North Yorkshire Police is to ensure the safety of Natalie and her child. Extensive enquiries are being carried out and all police forces in the country have been put on alert to assist the search for the mother and child.
Detective Chief Inspector Kerrin Smith, of North Yorkshire Police, said: “As a matter of urgency, it is essential for the police to confirm that Natalie and baby Robert are safe and well.
“There has clearly been a serious and violent incident that has occurred near her home at Seamer Caravan Site in the Stokesley area at around teatime on Friday.
“There is no evidence at this time to suggest that Natalie or baby Robert have come to harm. However, the lack of contact from Natalie with her family in Trimdon, County Durham, since the incident, is very much out of character and a great cause for concern.
“To help put her loved ones’ minds at rest, I urge Natalie to contact the police as soon as possible to confirm that both her and baby Robert are safe.
“I also urge Natalie’s husband, Robert Foster, as well as his family and friends, to fully recognise the seriousness of the situation that has developed and to contact the police immediately.”
Natalie Foster is described as white with a fair complexion, 5ft 2in tall, slim build, dark brown, straight waist-length hair and green eyes.
Baby Robert is white with small features, straight blonde hair with a reddish tint and blue eyes.
Anyone with information that can assist the appeal to trace Natalie Foster and her son Robert is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police as a matter or urgency on 0845 60 60 24 7, quoting the reference number 12110121906.
Information regarding the whereabouts of Natalie and baby Robert, as well as the serious assault, can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.
Press Conference update re: Urgent appeal to trace Natalie Foster and her infant son Robert
Additions to the main press release following press conference this morning:
DCI Kerrin Smith confirmed that the 43-year-old man who was subjected to the serious assault is Natalie Foster’s father (please note, we have not disclosed his name at this time for operational reasons)
He is currently in a serious but stable condition at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough where he has undergone surgery for serious injuries (again, for operational reasons, we have not disclosed the type of injuries and how they were inflicted)
DCI Smith made a direct appeal to Natalie about her father.
She said: “My message to Natalie is that your dad is making a good recovery in hospital following surgery. His injuries are not believed to be life threatening so this should put your mind at ease as I know how close you are to your family.”
She also said that for Natalie not contact her family is totally out of character. DCI Smith explained that she would normally phone and text her mum, for example, several times a day. But there has been no contact with Natalie since just before the serious assault on her dad on Friday 22 July.
DCI Smith again stressed that the primary concern for North Yorkshire Police is to confirm the safety of Natalie and baby Robert.
Despite a great deal of police effort, it is still unknown if Natalie and the baby are with her husband or they have gone their separate ways.
She said: “Due to the level of violence used in the serious assault on her father, and the fact that Robert Foster is wanted in connection with the incident, there is considerable concern for Natalie’s and baby Robert’s well being.”
Lastly, DCI Smith confirmed that the two men arrested in connection with the serious assault remain in custody.
Welcome breakthrough as missing mother and child return safely
North Yorkshire Police can confirm that Natalie Foster and her seven-month-old son Robert are safe and well
They had been the focus of significant concern following an incident at Seamer Caravan Site, near Stokesley, on Friday 22 July when Natalie’s father had been subjected to a serious assault by three men.
Two of the suspects were subsequently arrested but the third, Natalie’s 22-year-old husband Robert Henry Foster, disappeared – as did his wife and child.
Due to the violent nature of the incident with Natalie’s father and the fact that nobody had seen or heard from Natalie since just before the attack, which was totally out of character, there was a possibility that both her and baby Robert were in danger.
Thankfully, and as a direct result of the high profile media coverage that the investigation team was very grateful to receive, Natalie and baby Robert attended Northallerton Police Station on Sunday evening to confirm they had come to no harm.
Detective Chief Inspector Kerrin Smith, who is leading the investigation, said: “Our number one priority was always to ensure the safety of both Natalie and her son Robert. This was proving to be very difficult to achieve and if it wasn’t for the support of the media to highlight our very real concerns, then I am in no doubt that the matter would not have been resolved in a relatively short but intense period of time.
“I again express my gratitude for the care and sensitivity shown by the media under what were very difficult and complex circumstances.”
DCI Smith confirmed that the police enquiries to trace Robert Henry Foster remain ongoing.
She said: “It is imperative that Robert Foster is arrested as soon as possible in relation to the serious assault which took place at Seamer Caravan Site at around 5pm on Friday 22 July.
“We are following a number of lines of enquiry to achieve this outcome.
“I am also appealing to anyone with information that could reveal his whereabouts to contact the police or Crimestoppers without delay.”
If you can assist, please telephone North Yorkshire Police on 0845 60 60 24 7 quoting the reference number quoting the reference number 12110121906.
Information can also be passed on anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.
Natalie’s father remains in a serious but stable condition at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough following surgery. His injuries are not believed to be life threatening and it is hoped he will improve given time and further treatment.
Notification of court appearances:
The 30 and 20-year-old men from Middlesbrough who were arrested in connection with the serious assault on Natalie’s father, have now been charged with Section 18 Wounding with Intent (unlawful and malicious wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm).
They are due to appear at Northallerton Magistrates’ Court on Monday 25 July at 10am, court room 1.
