Floral tributes have been left at the headstone of Genette Tate – the 13 year old schoolgirl who disappeared 36 years ago tomorrow (Tues).
The schoolgirl's body has never been found but a memorial stone was laid three years ago in the churchyard of her home village Aylesbeare near Exeter, Devon, just a short distance from where she was last seen alive.
The stone reads:"In memory of Genette Louise Tate who disappeared from this village August 19th 1978 aged 13 years. Never forgotten, always loved.
"May she someday be returned to this place to rest in peace."
Sadly for her family 36 years on, that remains a distant hope her body will be found and she can have a proper burial.
The chief suspect in her kidnapping and murder is convicted serial child killer Robert Black.
But the Scottish killer refuses to cooperate with Devon and Cornwall Police despite several visits to Wakefield Jail where he is serving a life sentence for four child killings.
Black has been linked to a large number of other unsolved killings of young girls but a long Devon and Cornwall Police inquiry into what is Britain's longest missing persons inquiry has not led to anyone being charged in connection with Genette's probable abduction and murder.
Genette was last seen by two girlfriends while delivering the Express & Echo on her round in Within Lane in her home village.
Her bicycle was found in the narrow country lane but there was no trace of Genette.
Genette's ailing father John was too unwell to make his annual pilgrimage to her quiet memorial.
Yesterday John said: "The only contact I have with the police now is if I call them.
"Genette's mum Sheila Cook has a concern that the police might charge Robert Black just to clear up the mystery.
"The police have told me that they will never stop looking for Genette but I don't know if they are actively doing anything these days. It is another year on Tuesday and we still don't know what happened to her or where she is.
"She would have been 49 years old now and probably a wife, mother and even a grandmother."
