The sister of a woman who vanished a year ago has made an emotional plea for Oxford Mail readers to shed light on the mystery, writes Gill Smith.

Gracia Morton, who spent most weekends in her husband's second home in Stonesfield, near Woodstock, during an 11-year marriage went missing on November 12 last year.

Now her sister, Constana Lezama, is convinced Gracia was murdered and the case will be featured on the BBC's Crimewatch programme on Tuesday in the hope that new clues can be unearthed.

Argentinian-born Mrs Morton, 40, was in the process of divorce proceedings from her wealthy architect husband, Joe, when she disappeared. She was last seen dropping her four-year-old daughter, Celeste, at her husband's house in London. Since the separation, she and her daughter had lived in London's Kensington area away from her husband who remained in the family's Holland Park home.

Ms Lezama, who lives in Birmingham, is now convinced that her sister, who worked as a counsellor for the National Stroke Association, is dead.

She said: "We went through all the possibilities of blackouts, amnesia and choosing to disappear. But once you've ruled out all these things, the only thing that's left is that she's been killed.

"She was in touch with a therapist who would have spotted if there was a problem. But she was in very high spirits. Having decided to separate, it had a very positive effect on her. "Even if she had chosen to disappear, she would have made sure we knew. Because she had a link in Oxfordshire, there might be somebody who knows something about her disappearance."

She added that the family could not grieve properly until they knew what had happened to Gracia.

"It prevents you from moving on because you can't stop thinking about it," she said.

About two months ago, detectives searched an area of woodland near to the cottage in Stonesfield but failed to uncover any clues. They had also searched the cottage earlier in the inquiry.

Det Insp Richard Turner said: "Local people in Stonesfield know of Gracia and of Joe. We're extremely fearful for her safety and fear that she may have been killed.

"I've still got to keep an open mind that she's alive but in my heart of hearts I think she's dead. Unfortunately there's been no new infor- mation."

Anyone able to help should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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