A distraught family from East Lothian have made a plea for new information after their missing son never came home.
Dean was last seen walking near the Promenade in Musselburgh, East Lothian, on December 31 in 2021 but there has been no trace of him since.
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The 37-year-old was walking in the direction of the Promenade - close to his home - but failed to make contact with his worried loved ones and was tragically presumed deceased in January 2022.
Gary Finnie Dean's stepdad has opened up about the loss and the impact is has had on the devastated family over the last year.
The distraught dad has made a plea to anyone with information to help the family piece together his last movements so they can have some closure and understand what happened that night.
The family shared a heartbreaking tribute to Dean as their first Christmas without him came in December 2022. His stepdad told how he loved giving his family presents and said: "Obviously at this time of year we are especially conscious that we don't have Dean with us.
"We miss him getting excited about dinner and showing off his new trainers and tracksuit for the 50th time.
"He was so kind and took great pleasure in handing out the presents he got for us all."
Revisiting the loss, Gary told Edinburgh Live: "Time is moving on but our hearts are still broken. Poor Dean deserves better than this and we are still searching for answers.
"We have been a little quiet for the last year as we are private people along with the need to process what has happened and leave things to the authorities but this isn't a sign that we have accepted that this is the end of things."
He continued: "We are still searching for answers and need to know what happened on December 31 2021 going into January 1 2022.
"We are aware that there are a few stories going around and am interested to hear from anyone who thinks they might know anything at all.
"It might be a small thing that you think is unimportant but it's worth getting in touch if you are not sure as it might help.
"If it's a bigger thing then I accept you might be a bit worried but please come forward as it's information that will be treated in confidence."
Gary said he can't move on without knowing the full picture.
"I can't leave it like this and am determined to find out what happened to our boy. Regardless of my own feelings, I can't sit and watch the pain this is causing his mum and little brother."
"Dean deserves better. His Mum and brother deserve better. We need to put Dean to rest and find out what happened.
I am particularly interested to know anything between 2 pm 31st onwards who, where and when. Someone knows something that can help put the pieces together.
"I can't help feeling something is missing and we need to find it." He said.
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