RESOLVEN: ‘Raise a glass for Robert’ – a mother’s last appeal on the eve of her missing son’s 40th birthday

The mother of Robert Williams, the Resolven teenager missing for 24 years, has made one last appeal for information ahead of what would have been his 40th birthday tomorrow.

Robert was 15 when his mother Cheryl last saw him on 22 March 2002. He is known to have attended a house party the following evening, Saturday 23 March, in Tair Felin, Aberdulais, where other young people from the area would have seen him.

Despite extensive enquiries and appeals across the 24 years since, he has never been found.

“Every minute of every day I think about Robert,” Cheryl said, in an appeal issued through South Wales Police. “Every day I wonder what happened and every day I hope for answers. I cannot begin to explain the sadness and emptiness I feel inside.

“We as a family would have loved nothing more than to celebrate our son, brother, grandson, nephew and uncle’s upcoming 40th birthday with him.

“We only wish we could have seen what man Robert would have become, and wish he could see the incredible young man who is so proud to call Robert his brother. Rob would have adored his nephew and niece, who he never got the chance to meet.

“All who knew Robert would know what a character he was. Remember the fun and laughter you had with him and raise a glass on September 9 2026. Take a moment to look at your families and cherish every day with them. I never imagined life without Rob, and the heartache that would come with not knowing what happened.

“My one ask is, anyone who knows even the slightest information, don’t be afraid to come forward and tell the truth. I have heard terrible scenarios over the years that no one should ever hear of their own child, but my strength will always carry me through to get to the truth of what happened to Robert.”

She thanked recently retired Detective Inspector Dai Butt “for never giving up on trying to find Robert”, and PC Sam Phillips: “The best police officer who has helped me through the most terrible time in my life.” She also thanked Detective Chief Inspector Danielle Thorne, DC Sara Herbert and the investigation team.

‘It is not too late’

The appeal is the latest in a long line. South Wales Police marked the 20th anniversary of the disappearance in 2022, and the case has twice featured on BBC’s Crimewatch Live, in 2021 and again last year.

In September 2023, police said a 59-year-old woman and a 35-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the disappearance and bailed for further inquiries.

DCI Thorne, who now leads the investigation, said: “Robert’s mother Cheryl has been through over two decades of anguish and frustration that no information has led to the discovery of what happened to Robert. We cannot begin to adequately understand how difficult this ordeal has been to her.

“The investigation has seen numerous leads and tip-offs which have all, devastatingly, come to nothing. However, we still harbour hope that somebody who knows exactly what happened to Robert will come forward and bring the search to an end.”

When he left home, Robert was wearing a red and navy jumper, black t-shirt, navy Adidas tracksuit bottoms, a navy Adidas jacket and navy Ellesse canvas shoes.

“If you hold any information about what happened to Robert on that night in March 2002, please do come forward,” DCI Thorne said. “If you attended that party and saw Robert, the information that you could provide might be the vital information which could help us to finally find him.

“It is not too late, and you could be making an invaluable contribution to the investigation.”

Information can be passed to the investigation team through the case’s online portal.