Kyle Vaughan’s damaged Peugeot was found abandoned but its owner was never seen again
Thirteen years Kyle Vaughan vanished without a trace. The 24-year-old’s car was discovered at the scene of a single vehicle collision on December 30, 2012, but there has been no sign of its owner since.
The Newbridge man, who would now be 37, was last seen at around 11.45pm on December 30 having left his home that morning. Mystery has surrounded his disappearance ever since with his family tirelessly fighting for answers about their “fun-loving” son and brother.
Kyle’s car, a silver Peugeot 306, was found on the A467 between Crosskeys and Risca having been involved in a single vehicle collision on the day he disappeared.
After the discovery, one of the biggest police searches Wales has ever seen ensued. A missing persons investigation was initially launched, but it subsequently became a murder enquiry when eight people were arrested in connection with his disappearance.
They were all later released without charge. For the biggest stories in Wales first, sign up to our daily newsletter here.
Since then, police have searched around 40 areas, interviewed more than 200 people, received more than 180 intelligence logs, and taken nearly 900 witness statements.
In the aftermath of his death, police helicopter and dog teams searched several wooded areas with scores of Kyle’s family and friends taking part.
On October 14, 2016, the High Court officially presumed Kyle legally dead and his parents received a presumption of death certificate.
In 2021, his dad Alan Lucas described his son as being a “family-orientated, larger than life, fun-loving young man” who was a keen rock music fan with a huge network of friends. At the time of his death, his parents said it was “totally out of character” for him to go missing.
Alan added: “He had a charisma about him with all his friends and he was like a magnet. We had a party for his 21st birthday and 91 friends of his turned up so me and Mary were sat outside on the kerb.”
Issuing a renewed appeal on the 13th anniversary of Kyle’s disappearance, Detective Inspector Rhys Williams, said: “Kyle would be 37 now and we want to be able to give his family the answers they so desperately want 13 years after his last known sighting.
“We fully recognise the impact that Kyle’s disappearance has had on his family, and it is our firm belief that someone out there has that vital piece of information which could assist our enquiries.
“If that person is you, then we would urge you to get in touch with us to help this investigation.
“Detectives from our major incident team are responsible for reviewing every piece of information that comes in in relation to Kyle’s disappearance, whether that is newly received or otherwise.”
Kyle was last seen wearing a dark-coloured beanie hat, a dark-coloured T-shirt, three-quarter-length denim shorts, white trainers, and a gold chain.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact Gwent Police by calling 101 or by sending a direct message on social media, the Gwent Police website, or via email contact@gwent.police.gov.uk, using the reference 397 30/12/12.
The public can also submit information in relation to the investigation through a section of the major incident police portal (MIPP).
