WEBVTT

1
00:00:10.560 --> 00:00:14.560
<v Speaker 1>Hi, and welcome back to the Unseen podcast podcast dedicated

2
00:00:14.599 --> 00:00:20.079
<v Speaker 1>to missing people, unresolved cases and UK true crime. Today's

3
00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:23.719
<v Speaker 1>day ten of twelve days of missing person cases throughout December.

4
00:00:24.920 --> 00:00:27.760
<v Speaker 1>Today we're looking into the disappearance of thirty five year

5
00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:31.800
<v Speaker 1>old Suneka Hands from Bedford on Boxing Day twenty twelve.

6
00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:35.759
<v Speaker 1>Her sister and her family have continued to appeal for

7
00:00:35.799 --> 00:00:41.159
<v Speaker 1>information about her and her possible whereabouts ever since. This

8
00:00:41.240 --> 00:00:43.560
<v Speaker 1>episode is about a missing person and so does not

9
00:00:43.640 --> 00:00:48.159
<v Speaker 1>contain any descriptions of violence, but listener discretion is advised.

10
00:00:50.200 --> 00:00:53.399
<v Speaker 1>Bedford is a market town which is located in Bedfordshire,

11
00:00:53.479 --> 00:00:56.600
<v Speaker 1>around twenty five miles from Cambridge and around forty six

12
00:00:56.679 --> 00:01:01.439
<v Speaker 1>miles from London. It's a relatively smar with a population

13
00:01:01.560 --> 00:01:05.480
<v Speaker 1>of around one hundred and six thousand people. It's known

14
00:01:05.560 --> 00:01:08.319
<v Speaker 1>for the Great Ooze River which flows through its center

15
00:01:08.599 --> 00:01:13.359
<v Speaker 1>and several bridges that cross it. In twenty twelve, thirty

16
00:01:13.400 --> 00:01:16.120
<v Speaker 1>five year old Suneka Hands lived in a flat at

17
00:01:16.120 --> 00:01:19.920
<v Speaker 1>Priory Court in the center of town. She was living

18
00:01:19.959 --> 00:01:23.159
<v Speaker 1>with her sister, Menisha and Manisha's husband at that time.

19
00:01:24.879 --> 00:01:28.239
<v Speaker 1>Sineka and her sister Menisha were originally from India, where

20
00:01:28.280 --> 00:01:31.439
<v Speaker 1>their mother still lived, but they had relocated to the

21
00:01:31.519 --> 00:01:35.840
<v Speaker 1>area of Bedford. Sineka was known to be a friendly

22
00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:39.879
<v Speaker 1>and reliable person who was close to her family. She

23
00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:42.239
<v Speaker 1>had been working a job at McDonald's and was just

24
00:01:42.239 --> 00:01:44.719
<v Speaker 1>getting on with her life as far as those that

25
00:01:44.799 --> 00:01:50.439
<v Speaker 1>knew her were aware. Christmas twenty twelve came around and

26
00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:54.159
<v Speaker 1>on the twenty sixth, on Boxing Day, Sineka had spent

27
00:01:54.200 --> 00:01:56.120
<v Speaker 1>the day in the flat with her sister and brother

28
00:01:56.159 --> 00:02:00.879
<v Speaker 1>in law, as well as running some errands. At around

29
00:02:00.920 --> 00:02:04.000
<v Speaker 1>eleven forty a m. That morning, Sneka had left the

30
00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:07.519
<v Speaker 1>flat to go to the local Tesco Metro supermarket on

31
00:02:07.640 --> 00:02:11.680
<v Speaker 1>Midland Road, just a stone's throw from where she lived.

32
00:02:12.840 --> 00:02:14.840
<v Speaker 1>It was known that at that point she had bought

33
00:02:14.840 --> 00:02:18.680
<v Speaker 1>a bottle of vodka and some food. This was later

34
00:02:18.719 --> 00:02:24.639
<v Speaker 1>confirmed on CCTV from the Tesco. After buying these items,

35
00:02:24.680 --> 00:02:29.479
<v Speaker 1>she returned back home. At around one thirty pm that afternoon,

36
00:02:29.800 --> 00:02:32.120
<v Speaker 1>Sineka told her sister that she was going to nip

37
00:02:32.120 --> 00:02:36.439
<v Speaker 1>out again into the shops. She asked Minisha if she

38
00:02:36.479 --> 00:02:39.120
<v Speaker 1>wanted anything while she was out, and Minisha said she

39
00:02:39.199 --> 00:02:43.639
<v Speaker 1>was okay and didn't need anything. Sineka indicated that she

40
00:02:43.639 --> 00:02:49.159
<v Speaker 1>wouldn't belong and would be back soon. Some reporting indicates

41
00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:51.599
<v Speaker 1>that when Sneka left the flat that day she was

42
00:02:51.599 --> 00:02:57.560
<v Speaker 1>with a friend, but not all reporting states this. Sineka

43
00:02:57.639 --> 00:02:59.639
<v Speaker 1>left the flat and as far as Menisia knew, she

44
00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:02.080
<v Speaker 1>was popping to the shop for something she might have

45
00:03:02.159 --> 00:03:06.560
<v Speaker 1>forgotten and would be back soon. This, however, was not

46
00:03:06.599 --> 00:03:10.599
<v Speaker 1>what happened that day. Sineka never returned to the flat

47
00:03:10.680 --> 00:03:15.759
<v Speaker 1>and didn't contact her sister. This was extremely unusual, as

48
00:03:15.800 --> 00:03:18.599
<v Speaker 1>Sneka was very reliable and there was no reason to

49
00:03:18.639 --> 00:03:20.800
<v Speaker 1>believe that she had gone anywhere other than where she

50
00:03:20.840 --> 00:03:24.159
<v Speaker 1>said she was going to go. If she had just

51
00:03:24.240 --> 00:03:27.080
<v Speaker 1>nipped to the shops, where was she and why had

52
00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:33.159
<v Speaker 1>she not returned? Minishia was worried about her sister, and

53
00:03:33.240 --> 00:03:37.520
<v Speaker 1>she reported her missing to the police. Sneka was a

54
00:03:37.560 --> 00:03:39.680
<v Speaker 1>thirty five year old woman who of course could go

55
00:03:39.759 --> 00:03:43.199
<v Speaker 1>wherever she wanted. However, the fact that she hadn't returned

56
00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:45.639
<v Speaker 1>back to the place where she was living was strange.

57
00:03:47.039 --> 00:03:49.360
<v Speaker 1>She had only nipped out to get something from the shop.

58
00:03:50.159 --> 00:03:52.199
<v Speaker 1>She hadn't taken things with her to be gone for

59
00:03:52.240 --> 00:03:56.759
<v Speaker 1>a long time. Police began looking into the missing person

60
00:03:56.800 --> 00:03:59.599
<v Speaker 1>report and found what she had last been seen wearing.

61
00:04:00.680 --> 00:04:02.879
<v Speaker 1>They were looking for someone who was five feet three

62
00:04:02.919 --> 00:04:05.840
<v Speaker 1>inches tall with long black hair which had been dyed

63
00:04:05.960 --> 00:04:10.919
<v Speaker 1>dark brown. She left the home wearing red trousers or leggings,

64
00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:13.319
<v Speaker 1>a black jumper which was thygh length, and a dark

65
00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:17.560
<v Speaker 1>blue jacket. Police hope that by issuing this description to

66
00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:22.319
<v Speaker 1>the public, someone would remember seeing her that day. It

67
00:04:22.399 --> 00:04:24.720
<v Speaker 1>was Boxing day, which meant that more people may have

68
00:04:24.759 --> 00:04:28.000
<v Speaker 1>been out and about visiting family and friends or shopping.

69
00:04:29.439 --> 00:04:32.279
<v Speaker 1>There was the possibility that someone may have recognized her.

70
00:04:34.600 --> 00:04:37.560
<v Speaker 1>Police were able to track down CCTV from the Tesco

71
00:04:37.680 --> 00:04:41.199
<v Speaker 1>supermarket earlier on in the day to establish what she

72
00:04:41.279 --> 00:04:45.160
<v Speaker 1>looked like on that day that she went missing. They

73
00:04:45.199 --> 00:04:47.920
<v Speaker 1>also worked on trying to find any other CCTV of

74
00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:52.680
<v Speaker 1>Suneka walking around Bedford Town Center that day. If they

75
00:04:52.680 --> 00:04:54.959
<v Speaker 1>could figure out her route, then they might be able

76
00:04:54.959 --> 00:04:59.680
<v Speaker 1>to track down where she had gone. CCTV was found

77
00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:03.639
<v Speaker 1>of a matching Sineka's description at around two pm, about

78
00:05:03.680 --> 00:05:07.800
<v Speaker 1>half an hour after she had left home. This person

79
00:05:07.879 --> 00:05:10.360
<v Speaker 1>was seen visiting a shop near the Swan Hotel in

80
00:05:10.399 --> 00:05:14.639
<v Speaker 1>the Embankment area of the town. This was located next

81
00:05:14.639 --> 00:05:18.399
<v Speaker 1>to the Great Ooze River This was very much of

82
00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:20.360
<v Speaker 1>interest to the police, and while they had not been

83
00:05:20.399 --> 00:05:23.199
<v Speaker 1>able to say for certain that this was Sineka, it

84
00:05:23.279 --> 00:05:35.519
<v Speaker 1>gave them a new lead. Officers began searches of the

85
00:05:35.560 --> 00:05:38.959
<v Speaker 1>local area and police divers searched the Great Ooze River,

86
00:05:39.279 --> 00:05:42.279
<v Speaker 1>given that the CCTV image of this person who matched

87
00:05:42.279 --> 00:05:47.399
<v Speaker 1>the description was seen close to it. Despite these extensive

88
00:05:47.439 --> 00:05:50.319
<v Speaker 1>searches of the local area and the river, no sign

89
00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:53.160
<v Speaker 1>of Sineka has been found. It was as though she

90
00:05:53.240 --> 00:05:58.160
<v Speaker 1>left her home and vanished completely. Police made appeals in

91
00:05:58.199 --> 00:06:01.000
<v Speaker 1>the months and years following her disappear apearance, and each

92
00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:03.319
<v Speaker 1>time they hoped that something would strike a chord with

93
00:06:03.360 --> 00:06:08.639
<v Speaker 1>the public and someone would remember something crucial. Bedfordshire Police

94
00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:11.519
<v Speaker 1>also made some financial inquiries to see if this would

95
00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:16.319
<v Speaker 1>yield any leeds. It unfortunately did not, and Sineka did

96
00:06:16.319 --> 00:06:19.439
<v Speaker 1>not make any contact with anybody she knew during this time.

97
00:06:21.319 --> 00:06:24.160
<v Speaker 1>In the years that followed, Sneka's case has been highlighted,

98
00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:27.439
<v Speaker 1>particularly during the festive season, as this was the time

99
00:06:27.480 --> 00:06:32.160
<v Speaker 1>of year that she disappeared. This is always helpful. However,

100
00:06:32.160 --> 00:06:34.560
<v Speaker 1>there has not been much more information released about the

101
00:06:34.639 --> 00:06:39.560
<v Speaker 1>case or any updates that there might be In twenty

102
00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:43.040
<v Speaker 1>twenty one, police released two new images of Sineka once

103
00:06:43.079 --> 00:06:47.560
<v Speaker 1>again to help anyone who might have seen her come forward.

104
00:06:48.560 --> 00:06:51.120
<v Speaker 1>Sineka's family have had to live with her disappearance for

105
00:06:51.160 --> 00:06:54.120
<v Speaker 1>these years, and in twenty twenty two, on the ten

106
00:06:54.199 --> 00:06:57.959
<v Speaker 1>year anniversary of her disappearance, Manisha spoke to the press

107
00:06:57.959 --> 00:07:02.720
<v Speaker 1>about this. She said, celebrations have never been the same

108
00:07:02.839 --> 00:07:06.279
<v Speaker 1>and my sister's presence has always been missed. I have

109
00:07:06.360 --> 00:07:09.600
<v Speaker 1>never given up hope and I never ever will. I

110
00:07:09.639 --> 00:07:15.079
<v Speaker 1>will continue to pray she returns to us safely. Sneka's

111
00:07:15.120 --> 00:07:18.399
<v Speaker 1>mom passed away just a year after her disappearance and

112
00:07:18.439 --> 00:07:21.079
<v Speaker 1>so she didn't receive the answers that she's so needed.

113
00:07:23.000 --> 00:07:26.079
<v Speaker 1>Bedfordshire Police have continued to appeal for information and have

114
00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:29.399
<v Speaker 1>been dedicated to finding out where Sneka is despite the

115
00:07:29.480 --> 00:07:35.120
<v Speaker 1>lack of information and evidence available. Detective Inspector Catherine Rivers

116
00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:39.560
<v Speaker 1>from the Forces Missing Persons Investigation Team said, as we

117
00:07:39.639 --> 00:07:42.759
<v Speaker 1>celebrate this festive season, it's important to remember there are

118
00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:46.360
<v Speaker 1>families who have lost those who are missing. On the

119
00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:49.600
<v Speaker 1>tenth anniversary of Sneka's disappearance, her family has decided to

120
00:07:49.639 --> 00:07:52.920
<v Speaker 1>issue a heartfelt statement that will strike a card with

121
00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:55.720
<v Speaker 1>many people here in Bedfordshire and in the hope that

122
00:07:55.800 --> 00:07:59.319
<v Speaker 1>someone who knows something will come forward. We will never

123
00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:02.079
<v Speaker 1>close a missing person case and will follow any new

124
00:08:02.120 --> 00:08:06.360
<v Speaker 1>lines of inquiry to locate Sineka or establish what has happened.

125
00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:12.079
<v Speaker 1>Detective Chief Inspector Julia Everett, who had been reviewing the case,

126
00:08:12.279 --> 00:08:17.000
<v Speaker 1>has also stated Sneka's behavior in just disappearing is totally

127
00:08:17.000 --> 00:08:20.399
<v Speaker 1>out of character for her. She was a reliable employee

128
00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:23.439
<v Speaker 1>at MacDonald's and no one has any concrete reason why

129
00:08:23.480 --> 00:08:26.639
<v Speaker 1>she would disappear or harm herself or be harmed by

130
00:08:26.680 --> 00:08:31.759
<v Speaker 1>someone else. If you have information about Sneka, however small

131
00:08:31.879 --> 00:08:35.279
<v Speaker 1>or insignificant you think it is, please call us. Don't

132
00:08:35.320 --> 00:08:38.000
<v Speaker 1>leave it to someone else or assume it's not important.

133
00:08:39.440 --> 00:08:42.519
<v Speaker 1>It's possible that Sineka is perfectly well but decided to

134
00:08:42.600 --> 00:08:45.879
<v Speaker 1>leave her life in Bedford behind, preferring not to tell

135
00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:49.559
<v Speaker 1>people where she is. We can respect that decision and

136
00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:53.360
<v Speaker 1>those details can be kept confidential to the police. So

137
00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:55.879
<v Speaker 1>if you know where she is, or Sneka herself sees

138
00:08:55.919 --> 00:08:58.919
<v Speaker 1>our appeal, please just phone us direct or drop into

139
00:08:58.960 --> 00:09:01.679
<v Speaker 1>your nearest police station and let us know you're Okay.

140
00:09:03.240 --> 00:09:05.799
<v Speaker 1>Given the last potential sighting of her near the swan,

141
00:09:06.279 --> 00:09:09.159
<v Speaker 1>it's possible she may have fallen in the water, but

142
00:09:09.240 --> 00:09:12.559
<v Speaker 1>we have to keep an open mind. We're revisiting the

143
00:09:12.600 --> 00:09:16.320
<v Speaker 1>case because things do change all the time, new advances

144
00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:20.480
<v Speaker 1>in technology, new information, or some tiny detail we may

145
00:09:20.519 --> 00:09:22.799
<v Speaker 1>have missed that can be revealed with a fresh look

146
00:09:22.919 --> 00:09:27.480
<v Speaker 1>or what we know. If you know anything about Sneka

147
00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:31.919
<v Speaker 1>Hans's disappearance, then please contact Bedfordshire Police online or by

148
00:09:31.960 --> 00:09:36.159
<v Speaker 1>calling one oh one quoting MPC forward slash four six

149
00:09:36.320 --> 00:09:39.960
<v Speaker 1>five forward slash one two. I will leave the link

150
00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:44.679
<v Speaker 1>in the show notes. Thank you for listening to today's episode.

151
00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:47.679
<v Speaker 1>Listen in to day eleven, where we will cover another

152
00:09:47.720 --> 00:09:51.840
<v Speaker 1>missing or unidentified person case. If you'd like to support

153
00:09:51.840 --> 00:09:55.159
<v Speaker 1>the podcast further, then you can on Patreon and contribute

154
00:09:55.159 --> 00:09:58.279
<v Speaker 1>to exclusive polls to get extra bonus episodes every month.

155
00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:01.480
<v Speaker 1>You can also get act a new episodes early in

156
00:10:01.559 --> 00:10:04.000
<v Speaker 1>ad free. You can use the link in the show

157
00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:07.000
<v Speaker 1>notes to visit Patreon and see what we offer. You

158
00:10:07.039 --> 00:10:09.879
<v Speaker 1>can also support us by reviewing the podcast wherever you listen,

159
00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:14.240
<v Speaker 1>including Spotify, and also just share the episodes. You can

160
00:10:14.279 --> 00:10:18.960
<v Speaker 1>subscribe on YouTube and follow us on social media. As always,

161
00:10:19.120 --> 00:10:21.679
<v Speaker 1>I'm Caprice and this has been unseen