Robert Duff

Status:

Open

Jurisdiction:

Metropolitan Police Service London (UK)

Missing From:

Archway, London, UK

Summary:

Robert Duff, a 37-year-old father of two from Kilburn, North London, disappeared on January 12, 2013, while en route to his daughter's 18th birthday celebration. Initially treated as a missing persons case, it was upgraded to a murder investigation in 2018 after a new witness came forward. Police believe he was killed following a fight that night, though his body has never been found.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Disappearance:

On January 12, 2013, Robert Duff was due to attend a family celebration for his daughter's 18th birthday. The 37-year-old father-of-two was close to his parents and his two daughters and was in contact with them at least once a day. He was last seen alive at 11:12am when he was captured on CCTV withdrawing money from a cash machine outside Sainsbury's in Holloway Road. His family last had contact with him at 8:30pm on January 12th, when he told his daughter to be careful on a night out with friends. Around 45 minutes later, he accidentally "pocket-dialled" his daughter and left a voicemail with the voices of a woman and two men in the background. Police believe Mr Duff was involved in a fight with two men on the day he disappeared, and was killed that night. He had been to a flat in Bredgar Road, Archway, north London, on the night and several people were there.

Additional Details:

His disappearance was treated as a missing persons inquiry until 2018, when a television appeal on ITV News London led a new witness to come forward. Detective Chief Inspector Luke Marks, who was leading the investigation, said that in response to media appeals a new witness came forward with "highly significant information about what happened to Robert" that caused them to change the investigation from a missing persons enquiry to a murder investigation. Two men aged 51 and 70 were arrested on suspicion of murder in Archway, north London, on May 14, 2018, but were released under investigation following questioning. They were later released with no further action. On the basis of a tip that Robert's body could be concealed in water, police dive teams began a search of Highgate No 1 pond in Hampstead Heath in November 2020. However no evidence of Robert was found during the searches. In 2023, Metropolitan Police reopened the case, on the 10th anniversary of his disappearance. Detective Inspector Tom Williams of the Specialist Crime Command said: "Robert's family desperately longs for answers, and we remain committed to finding him." While current lines of inquiry have been exhausted, the case remains unsolved meaning that any new information received would be acted on and thoroughly investigated.

Case Last Updated:

May 12, 2026