Detectives investigating the long-standing disappearance of a Birmingham City fan have stated that he was 'not the kind of person to just drop off the radar'. Andrew Dill, who was 38 at the time of his disappearance, vanished from Birmingham over two decades ago. This week marks the anniversary of his going missing.
The Disappearance
Andrew Dill was last seen on April 28, 2003, when his then-girlfriend dropped him off at Hednesford Train Station as he made his way home to New Street. He was living by the waterside near the city centre at the time. The following day, he spoke to a friend on the phone, but that was the last time anyone heard from him.
In the days that followed, relatives and friends attempted to contact Andrew multiple times, but their calls were declined. His father reported him missing in May 2003, prompting a police investigation. When officers searched Andrew's flat, they found nothing unusual; the property appeared as though he was expected to return. The canal near his home was also searched, but no trace of him was found.
Appeals Over the Years
Later in 2003, an appeal for information about Andrew was featured in the programme for a Birmingham City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers match. Police have previously expressed interest in locating a Sky Blue Nokia 3310 with dark blue trim that Andrew may have had.
Now, officers from the Missing Person Review Team have relaunched their appeal. PC Rob Jones said: 'Andrew, who would be 61 now, was not the kind of person to just drop off the radar like this. He had a lot of family and friends who he had been in regular contact with, so going missing in this way would have been out of character.'
New Age Progression Image
Police have released a new age progression photo showing what Andrew may look like today. PC Jones added: 'We're hoping someone who knew Andrew back in the early 2000s might remember something about him and his life which could help us piece together what happened to him. We know he had a lot of friends and sometimes went by other names, including using the surname Dillon.'
Officers are particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have found a Sky Blue Nokia 3310 with dark blue trim in the city centre in late April to early May 2003. 'If anyone remembers finding such a phone, we would be really keen to hear about this,' PC Jones said.
Appeal for Information
Anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, is urged to call 0121 626 7003 to speak to the review team directly. The West Midlands Police Missing Person Review Team investigates long-running missing cases, often dating back decades. Using modern technology such as age progression, they revisit investigations to see if any new evidence or leads can be found. Since the team was formed, they have successfully completed dozens of investigations, finding people who went missing as far back as 50 years ago.
