Exactly one year after Cardiff mother Charlene Hobbs disappeared following a trip to Morrisons, a 46-year-old man has been rearrested and bailed as police treat her disappearance as murder and Crimestoppers offers a £20,000 reward for information.
The 36-year-old mother from Cardiff’s Riverside area, known for her distinctive dragon tattoo on her back, was last seen on 24 July 2024 in a mobile phone photograph taken at a property in Broadway, Adamsdown. Despite one of South Wales Police’s most extensive missing person investigations, Charlene’s whereabouts remain unknown.
The man, originally arrested at age 45 and now 46, has been further arrested and released on bail as the investigation continues. Two other individuals – a 43-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman – also remain on bail pending further enquiries.
Massive Investigation Yields Few Clues
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Powell revealed the scale of the investigation, which has included ten media appeals, 400 people linked to the investigation being interviewed, 629 properties visited, more than 1,000 hours of CCTV reviewed, and 3,300 documents recorded.
“The investigation into the disappearance of Charlene is complex and meticulous,” DCI Powell said. “Despite a huge number of enquiries, which are continuing, unfortunately no one has come forward with information about what has happened to Charlene or where she is.”
South Wales Police officially launched a murder inquiry in March 2025, nearly eight months after Charlene vanished. “While I have always maintained an open mind, the lack of evidence that Charlene is alive means that we are now treating her disappearance as a murder investigation,” DCI Powell explained at the time.
Timeline of a Mystery
Charlene was captured on CCTV at Morrisons Local in Moira Place, Adamsdown, on 23 July 2024. The following morning at 6:07am, a mobile phone photograph confirmed she was at a property in Broadway, Adamsdown. Her hair was in a bun and she was wearing a dark strapless top, with her distinctive dragon tattoo visible.
This photograph remains the last confirmed sighting of Charlene, though dozens of potential sightings have been reported by the public, prompting extensive police enquiries across Cardiff and beyond.
Potential Sightings Under Investigation
Police have released details of two significant potential sightings that remain under investigation:
29 July 2024 – Black Bridge, Adamsdown: At approximately 11:20am, witnesses reported seeing Charlene on the railway bridge linking Adamsdown and Splott, possibly wearing a blue jacket. She was allegedly walking in single file with two men – one described as white with a pale complexion, aged 30s-40s, and another wearing a black face covering.
1 November 2024 – Asda, Coryton: Around 5:30pm, Charlene was reportedly spotted at the store’s security desk with a young boy aged approximately four. A woman described as about 40 years old with short burgundy dyed hair approached them, and all three left the supermarket together.
Police have repeatedly urged these unknown individuals to come forward as potential witnesses.
Burnt-Out Car Mystery
Adding another layer to the investigation, a distinctive Nissan Micra was seized by police on 29 October 2024 in St Helen’s Close, Abergavenny. The vehicle, originally red but largely painted black, was found burnt out, suggesting efforts to destroy evidence.
The discovery in Abergavenny, approximately 30 miles from Cardiff, has led officers to expand their search area beyond the capital, conducting enquiries and searches across south Wales including derelict premises, vehicles, open land and waterways.
Community Appeals and Family Anguish
DCI Powell emphasised the human cost of Charlene’s disappearance: “Charlene is a mother, a sister, a daughter, and a friend to many. We understand that this is an extremely difficult time and, like us, they are desperate for answers.”
The detective remains convinced that someone in the community holds vital information. “I still firmly believe that answers lie in the community and that someone out there holds key information that will help us find Charlene,” he stated.
Residents in the Splott and Roath areas of Cardiff have been asked to check outbuildings and empty properties where Charlene might have taken shelter, as police continue their painstaking search.
£20,000 Reward Offered
The charity Crimestoppers has offered a reward of up to £20,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Charlene’s disappearance. The charity emphasises that informants can remain completely anonymous.
“We remain committed to finding Charlene and a specialist team of officers and staff are focused on the investigation,” DCI Powell confirmed, noting that despite the murder inquiry designation, officers still hope to find Charlene alive.
Missing Persons Crisis
Charlene’s case highlights the broader missing persons crisis facing South Wales. According to police statistics, the force receives on average more than 8,000 missing person reports annually – approximately 17 people reported missing each day.
In the past five years alone, more than 41,500 people were reported missing to South Wales Police, though the vast majority are found safe. Charlene’s case remains one of the most complex and resource-intensive investigations the force has undertaken.
How to Help
Police continue to appeal for information, no matter how insignificant it may seem. They are particularly interested in:
- Information about Charlene’s movements on 24 July 2024
- Details about the two men seen with her on Black Bridge
- Information about the woman with burgundy hair at Asda Coryton
- Any connection to the burnt-out Nissan Micra in Abergavenny
- CCTV, doorbell camera or dashcam footage from the areas of interest
Information can be submitted to South Wales Police via:
- The dedicated portal: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/62SWP24B95-PO1
- Live Chat at south-wales.police.uk
- Calling 101 quoting reference 2400353044
- Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111
As another day passes marking a full year since Charlene vanished, her family, friends and the wider Cardiff community continue to hope for answers about what happened to the mother with the dragon tattoo who seemingly disappeared without trace.
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