A NEW reward of £20,000 is being offered for information about the murder of a young woman whose body was found next to the M5 near Thornbury.
A renewed appeal for information about Melanie Hall’s killer has also been made on the BBC’s Crimewatch programme, almost 30 years after she disappeared from a nightclub in Bath.
Melanie’s remains were found by the side of the northbound entry slip-road of the M5 at the Falfield junction, near Thornbury, on October 5, 2009 – more than 13 years after she disappeared.
Police believe the 25-year-old hospital worker’s body is likely to have been dumped there soon after she was last seen alive, at Cadillacs nightclub in Bath in the early hours of June 9, 1996.
Search for people with ‘connections’ to junction
Detective Chief Inspector Ben Lavender, who is leading the police investigation, said: “The location where Melanie’s remains were found remains a key focus for us.
“We’re keeping an open mind as to when Melanie’s body was dumped at this location. This could have been in the hours after she went missing, or the days following this.
“Did you see a car parked on the slip road, near to where it joins the M5 in the early hours of Sunday 9 June, or in the days or weeks after this? Do you know anyone from Bath who has connections with this route?”
Police are asking people to cast their minds back to the weekend of June 8 to 9 1996, when England played their opening match of the Euro 1996 football championships against Switzerland at Wembley.
Melanie was last seen at the nightclub in Walcot Street, Bath, at 1.10am that night, when her friends left. She was sitting at the side of the dance floor on her own.
DCI Lavender said: “We believe there’s a strong possibility Melanie left the nightclub with her killer, as a coat she’d checked into a cloakroom was collected, but she could have met them outside or got into a car.
“If you have information or suspicions about anyone who could be connected to Melanie’s disappearance, now is the time to let us know.
“Please let us decide if information is relevant to the investigation or not.”
When Melanie’s body was found next to the slip-road by a maintenance worker in 2009 it was wrapped in black bin liners, tied with blue rope.
She had suffered extensive head injuries.
The clothes she was wearing on the night she went missing – a pale blue silk dress with a round neck, black suede mule shoes with straps across the front and an open toe, and a cream single-breasted, long-sleeved jacket – were missing.
Also never found was her black, satchel-type handbag, containing cosmetics, a Midland cheque book and bank card, and jewellery including a Next watch with expanding bracelet and silver drop earrings.
‘Unimaginable pain’ for family
Melanie’s father Steve and sister Dominique (above) were interviewed for the Crimewatch appeal.
Steve said: “If someone was apprehended and convicted of Melanie’s murder it wouldn’t bring closure but what it will do will mean that the last thing we’ve been able to do for Melanie is to see her killers brought to justice, and we believe eventually we will get a result.
Dominique said: “I’m fast approaching 60 and Dad is 82 and I worry, how much longer will we have and will we ever know, if we don’t get our answers soon?”
DCI Lavender said: “Melanie’s family has endured unimaginable pain and uncertainty for almost three decades and have shown extraordinary strength and resilience throughout this time. Everything we do is driven by the need to provide them with the justice and answers they so desperately need.”
He appealed to anyone who saw Melanie on the night she disappeared, knows someone who “acts differently” when they hear about the case, or has any other information they think could be relevant, to get in touch.
Keys ‘could be really important’
Police are also appealing for information about a set of three Ford car keys (pictured above) that was found close to Melanie’s body.
DCI Lavender said tests had been carried out on the keys but had not been able to confirm which car they came from, or the owner.
He said: “We still don’t know to this day where those keys came from – they may be really important.
“Even the smallest piece of information, no matter how significant it may seem, could be the key to solving this case.
“If you have any lingering doubts or nagging suspicions, please contact us.”
How to claim reward
Independent charity Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the Melanie’s murder.
To be eligible for the reward, people should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Calls can be made anonymously and are not traced.
Police also have a dedicated team and web page for their murder enquiry. People can call 101 and ask for the Operation Denmark team or visit the website.
You can view the latest Crimewatch appeal here.