On the left, midwife Samantha Eastwood is beaming next to her boyfriend John Peake. His sister Katie Stirling, in her bridesmaid’s dress, sits next to her husband Mike.
But fast forward four years to today and Samantha is at the centre of one of the country’s biggest missing person hunts — vanished for a week, with no clues to her whereabouts.
Her £190,000 house in the village of Stockton Brook, Stoke-on-Trent, is a blur of police activity and forensic suits, while hundreds of cops around Britain have joined the search and detectives have spoken to family and friends to see if they can help.
Police made a long visit to the home shared by Katie and Mike, who left to go on holiday last Friday, just hours after Samantha was last seen.
The mystery — which has seen images of 28-year-old Samantha’s face shared online thousands of times by worried friends — has left her nearest and dearest baffled because it is so out of character.
No one seems to know what has happened to the happy-go-lucky girl who made time for everyone.
Yesterday afternoon, 34-year-old John was still appealing for help, despite his messy break-up with Samantha earlier this year which led her to try to sell her unworn wedding dress online for £400 just a few weeks ago.
One friend said last night: “This is completely unlike Sam. She has loving friends and family, and was particularly close to her mum.
“She’s happy, adores her job and there were no money worries or enemies. She was single and had no reason to flee. Nothing about this makes any sense.”
Samantha vanished after finishing a night shift at nearby Royal Stoke University Hospital at 7.45am on July 27 and driving home.
She failed to arrive for her next night shift the same evening, prompting colleagues to call the police, as the no-show was so unlike her.
After a false sighting at a nearby station, detectives began a painstaking investigation into her life and the months leading to her disappearance.
Samantha’s planned wedding to John in June never happened. The couple, who are believed to have met after she attended Keele University, ended the relationship suddenly at the start of the year. But Instead of dwelling on the break-up, Samantha kept busy — putting the dress up for sale and doing a charity skydive.
But the split brought an end to a romance so intimate that John’s mum Lynn still refers to Samantha as a “daughter-in-law” on social media.
Yesterday, as police visited the home of John’s sister Katie and her husband Mike, both 32, in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, next-door neighbour Doreen Nixon, 82, said: “Katie and Michael are really nice people. They went on holiday on Friday.
“But 20 minutes after they left, the police arrived. I last saw Samantha here about a year ago.”
Mike’s Facebook profile carried many pictures of Samantha until mid-afternoon yesterday, when it was abruptly taken down.
Meanwhile, the investigation has produced several conflicting theories that have led police to declare “nothing is off the table” in the hunt.
So far it seems unlikely Samantha could have harmed herself, as she was in good spirits leaving work and had no known problems.
But police are checking a report that screaming was heard from inside her home at 2pm on the day she disappeared. None of her possessions — not even her bank cards — were taken from the house and it appeared to be undisturbed.
Detectives have refused to reveal what has happened to Samantha’s phone or whether she still has it.
Police say she has not rung any family members since she vanished.
Her blue Volvo was still parked in the drive with the keys inside, suggesting she may have been intending to go out when something happened.
Staffordshire Police say theories that she may have been abducted have not been ruled out.
Cops have arrested an unknown 32-year-old man on suspicion of kidnap, but he has been released on bail under investigation.
They are urging anyone who recalls anything strange happening in rural locations, lay-bys, open car parks or cars parked in unusual circumstances to contact them.
The force has also spoken to staff at a local steam railway which is connected to Samantha’s ex, John.
Workers at Churnet Valley Railway said they had been told by police not to speak about the case.
Meanwhile John remained behind the locked door of his new home yesterday.
Samantha’s social media presence is full of images of her enjoying herself with pals, and colleagues old and new said she was an outstanding professional and friend.
Old schoolmate Zoe Hanrahan, 28, has been among thousands sharing the appeal for information on Facebook. She said: “Samantha was so kind, compassionate and caring. She never had any problems and always just cracked on with things. She was ideal nurse material.”
Samantha’s boss, chief nurse Liz Rix, has also urged anyone with information to come forward.
She said: “Samantha is a much-loved and valued member of the hospital and her maternity centre colleagues are very concerned.
“She has worked as a midwife at Royal Stoke for six years and not turning up to work on Friday evening was very much out of character for her.”
Detective superintendent Simon Duffy of Staffordshire Police said this week: “The investigation is still being treated as a high-risk missing person case but as time goes on we are increasingly concerned about her welfare, as are her family.
“This is totally out of character for Samantha. As far as we know she lived alone, with no children.
“She was due to be married in June this year but that relationship broke down earlier in the year.
“At the time of her disappearance, we have nothing to suggest that she was anything but a single person.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to appeal to Samantha or anyone who is with her or has seen her since that last sighting to please get in touch.”
Timeline of events
FRIDAY, JULY 27
7.45am – Samantha ends her shift at Royal Stoke University Hospital and drives home.
2pm – A neighbour near her home hears a scream. Police are only informed later.
7.20pm – Hospital colleagues tell police that Sam has not turned up for her shift. Cops discover her car is still at home, together with house keys and bank cards.
SATURDAY, JULY 28
12pm – Police search Samantha’s home and take an interest in Katie and Mike Stirling’s house, although they are believed to be away on holiday
SUNDAY, JULY 29
8am – Police issue plea to public to help them find Samantha
2pm – Police quiz a 32-year-man they have arrested on suspicion of kidnap.
MONDAY, JULY 30
5pm – Police release the man on conditional bail and carry out house-to-house enquiries.
TUESDAY, JULY 31
4pm – Police put out CCTV showing Samantha leaving work in an effort to try to find her. They reveal she had been due to marry but the wedding was cancelled.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1
1pm – Samantha’s family and ex-boyfriend John continue appeals online for her safe return.
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