A regional publisher’s investigations chief has uncovered evidence in a three-decade-old murder case after a four-year probe.

Newsquest investigations editor Mark Williams-Thomas has revealed an alleged confession by a key suspect in the case of Nicola Payne.

The 18-year-old mother went missing in Coventry in December 1991.

Nicola disappeared while walking the short distance from her boyfriend’s house to her family home in Coventry, leaving her seven-month-old baby Owen with partner Jason Cooke.

Nicola has never been found despite one of the largest search operations in British history, involving helicopters, dogs, divers, and more than 100 officers.

Mark, pictured, has now released his findings in a new two-part podcast called ‘The Unsolved Murder of Nicola Payne’.

He said: “My aim with this investigation and podcast was to provide closure to John, a grieving father at 78, and Owen, a son without memories of his mother.

“I bring forward new and credible information about the case, including an alleged confession by a key suspect.”