On December 27, 2001, just weeks after the attacks on the World Trade Center in America, a woman vanished without a trace in Hilversum. The 44-year-old Wendy Whitehead was reported missing only four months later, when her father, John Allison, became increasingly worried after months of silence.

About Wendy Whitehead

Wendy was born on April 6, 1957, in Hull, England. She reportedly lived in Blackpool and Leeds before emigrating to the Netherlands in 2000 with her partner, Steven Oldman. Steven worked in construction and was involved in a project at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. Wendy had met Steven in Blackpool at a time when they were both separated from their former partners.

Wendy had three grown children from her previous marriage. After moving to the Netherlands, she and Steven lived together in an apartment on Nieuwe Doelenstraat in Hilversum.

Life in the Netherlands quickly proved challenging for Wendy. She struggled with the language, which made it difficult for her to build a social circle. To contribute financially, she took a job but never felt at ease there. On top of that, her relationship with Steven became increasingly strained. Their frequent arguments escalated as both began drinking more heavily. Neighbors often heard the couple shouting, and some arguments became so intense that the police were called. During one heated dispute, Wendy stabbed Steven in the back with a broken wine glass.

Disappearance on Boxing Day

On December 26, Wendy called her father, John, and told him that she and Steven had gotten into another heated argument, this time over a Christmas present. She said she had had enough and wanted to leave Steven. John reassured her, saying she could always return to England. But Wendy replied that it was impossible and mentioned being afraid of "a big, dark man." Who this person was remained unclear during the call. Wendy ended the conversation, promising to get in touch soon.

The next day, on December 27, Wendy Whitehead disappeared without a trace. However, her disappearance went unnoticed for months. Her children and father, John Allison, were initially unaware of her absence. Although Wendy stopped contacting them, Steven repeatedly gave excuses over the phone when they tried to reach her.

The prolonged silence was highly unusual for Wendy, who was very attached to her family and always maintained regular contact. When John didn’t even receive a card from her on Father’s Day—a tradition she never skipped—he knew something was wrong. The lack of communication felt like a clear sign that something was amiss.

Investigation

Eventually, alarm bells rang. The police were informed of Wendy’s disappearance and launched an investigation into her sudden absence. During questioning, Steven Oldman claimed that Wendy had left the house while he was away, taking only her passport. He said he assumed she had returned to England, which was why he hadn’t reported her missing. He added that the days had "flown by," leaving him no time to report her disappearance later. Police investigations revealed that Wendy hadn’t withdrawn any money from her bank account since December 26, and no trace of her could be found.

Apartment residents told the police that the couple often fought, but they hadn’t noticed anything unusual related to Wendy’s disappearance—other than the argument Wendy had mentioned to her father. However, one resident made a cryptic remark: “A lot can be hidden under concrete.”

Despite efforts by both Dutch and British police, the case remained unsolved. While there was a strong suspicion that Steven Oldman knew more about Wendy’s disappearance, this could not be proven. The investigation stalled, and the case was eventually archived.

Suspect Deceased

Some time after Wendy’s disappearance, Steven Oldman returned to England. On September 22, 2003, he took his own life at Childerditch Industrial Park in Essex by filling his car with exhaust fumes. A short suicide note was found on the passenger seat, in which Steven wrote that his new Dutch girlfriend had left him. However, he didn’t mention Wendy’s disappearance. Steven had always denied having any involvement in her vanishing.

Tips and Information

Despite relentless efforts by Wendy’s children to find answers, her disappearance remains unsolved to this day. They continue to live with countless questions and hope that someone knows more about what happened to Wendy.

Do you have information? Do you know where Wendy might be or have details about her disappearance? Please contact us. We will ensure your information reaches the right authorities and, if necessary, conduct our own independent investigation. You can respond anonymously. Don’t hesitate—reach out to us today.