The decades-long mystery surrounding the disappearance of young sailor Simon Parkes has once again returned to the spotlight after his mother, Margaret Parkes, made an emotional public appeal to convicted killer Allan Grimson. Nearly 40 years after Simon vanished without a trace, Margaret has directly called on the man long suspected of being responsible, urging him to finally reveal the truth about what happened to her son and where his remains may be located.

Margaret, now 80 years old, remains convinced that Simon became a victim of Grimson, who was serving alongside him aboard the HMS Illustrious in the Royal Navy. Simon, a radio operator, disappeared in December 1986 when the aircraft carrier was docked in Gibraltar. Despite years of investigations, searches, and unanswered questions, his body has never been found, leaving his family trapped in a painful state of uncertainty.

Speaking publicly about her heartbreak, Margaret delivered a direct message to Grimson, pleading with him to provide answers. She said she wanted him to explain what happened to Simon and finally give the family the information they have spent decades searching for. For nearly four decades, she has continued to believe that Grimson holds the key to solving the mystery, despite his repeated denials that he had any involvement in Simon’s disappearance.

Margaret has called for authorities to reopen the investigation, saying that her family deserves the truth and the opportunity to finally have closure. She explained that living without knowing what happened to her son has been extremely painful, with the uncertainty affecting their lives for almost 40 years. She hopes that a renewed investigation could eventually lead to an inquest and allow the family to receive an official death certificate confirming Simon’s fate.

Grimson, who became known as the “Frankenstein Killer” because of his imposing appearance and large physical frame, has long been associated with Simon’s disappearance. He was already serving as a sailor on HMS Illustrious during the same period Simon vanished, and investigators have repeatedly examined his possible connection to the case.

The convicted killer was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2001 after being found guilty of murdering two young Navy servicemen, Nicholas Wright, 18, from Leicestershire, and Sion Jenkins, 20, from Newbury. Both men had served with Simon on the same aircraft carrier. Prosecutors said Grimson invited the men to his flat before attacking them with a baseball bat and disposing of their bodies. The dates of those murders were especially significant because both occurred on December 12, the same date Simon disappeared years earlier.

During his sentencing, the judge described Grimson as a “serial killer in nature if not by number,” highlighting the extreme danger posed by his actions. Grimson had also previously made disturbing statements about violence, including a claim that murder was “better than sex,” further contributing to the public perception of him as a dangerous offender.

More recently, Grimson was convicted of additional offences involving sexual assaults against four males, including a teenager. During those proceedings, the court heard disturbing evidence about his behaviour and statements made during police interviews. Prosecutors argued that these offences demonstrated a pattern of predatory and violent conduct that had continued throughout the years.

Despite these convictions and the long-standing suspicion surrounding Simon’s disappearance, Grimson has never been charged in connection with the missing sailor’s case. Police previously carried out several searches in Gibraltar, including searches of a cemetery and a car park, but investigators were unable to uncover evidence that would lead to a prosecution.

The investigation into Simon’s disappearance was officially closed after detectives failed to find enough evidence against Grimson. However, Margaret has refused to accept that the case should remain unresolved. She believes that new information could still emerge and that authorities should continue searching for answers.

She said that after spending more than half of her life waiting for information, she now fears time is running out. Her greatest wish is to know what happened to her son before it is too late. She hopes that an official inquiry can provide some form of justice and allow the family to finally understand Simon’s fate.

Grimson has consistently denied any involvement in Simon’s disappearance. His legal representatives have previously argued that renewed investigations into his past contacts affected his chances of being considered for parole. A parole review had once recommended that he could move to an open prison as a step toward possible release, but further investigations into allegations involving other victims led to new legal proceedings.

During his original murder trial, a psychiatrist described Grimson as a psychopath and one of the most complex offenders they had encountered. He has since been diagnosed with a severe personality disorder, similar to that identified in other notorious serial offenders. Because of the seriousness of his condition, he has remained imprisoned rather than being transferred to a secure psychiatric facility.

For Margaret Parkes, however, the central question remains unanswered: what happened to Simon? As she continues her fight for the truth, she is appealing not only to investigators but directly to the man she believes knows the answer. After nearly four decades of silence, she hopes Grimson will finally reveal the location of her son’s remains and provide the closure her family has desperately sought for so long.