Do you perhaps have more than one 'identity' set?
You did not say which email programme!!
For OE, the files you are looking for (in 'search') are .dbx
For Outlook, the 'personal folders' are in a .pst file
both should have a date stamp between 18 or 19/12 and 31/12. Good news if you find something like that!
Not in 'deleted' are they?
