An international group dedicated to finding missing people began an e-mail campaign asking residents of the UAE to help find a South African woman who has not been seen since August. Forever Searching has been blanketing in-boxes with information about Kerry Winter, 35. Neighbours said they saw her being attacked by a man outside her home.
A British businessman is in custody, suspected of killing her. No body was found. Despite the circumstances of her disappearance, Ms Winter's family still believe there is a chance she is alive. Karen Chapman, chairman at Forever Searching, said: "It is first time Dubai has come up on our radar. With Ms Winter's case, we will run an e-mail campaign and in the future we will look at a more focused campaign in the UAE."
The group publicises missing-person cases through e-mail and poster campaigns. "It is a campaign around the world for missing people because at this time of the year it is an incredibly painful time for families with missing loved ones," Ms Chapman said. Ms Winter was last seen by neighbours outside her Al Barsha villa on Aug 20. Neighbours phoned police after they saw her being beaten by a man with a baseball bat before she was dragged, injured and bleeding, into the back of her car and then driven away.
The businessman, 42, identified by prosecutors only as MA, is the only suspect in the case. He first told police that he dropped Ms Winter off at the Arabian Ranches roundabout the night she vanished. He later changed his story, twice, first claiming to dump her body in the desert. Then he said he threw her in the sea. Ms Winter's brother, Kurt Winter, spent two months in the UAE searching for his sister after her disappearance.
He said previously he was disappointed that the family never received any help from the South African government. Anyone who can offer any information on any of its missing person cases can contact Forever Searching or the "Find Your Way Home" campaign, which is at enquiries@foreversearching.com or by telephoning +44 7809 482428. eharnan@thenational.ae
