Homicide Investigations

  • Reference Number: 2042
  • Date released: 29 July 2009

Request

I am currently researching cold case homicide investigations and I would like to know the total number of unsolved murders the force has, going back in time as far as is possible to present date, and the number of unsolved murders in each year please, (from the first you hold on record to present date if possible).

Response

In accordance with section 1(1) (b) of the Act our response is provided below;

Cheshire Unresolved Murder Investigations

All Cheshire unresolved cases are subject to a 2 year rolling periodic review by the Major Crime Review Team. Cases are never closed and where viable lines of investigation are identified by review processes, the Force Major Investigation Team is engaged to pursue them.

NAME YEAR Location Comment
BAKER 1958 High Legh Found dead in field near to A50.
WILKINSON 1967 Middlewich Found dead in wooded area on bank of Trent & Mersey Canal. http://www.cc-publishing.co.uk/Archives/wilkinson.html
Jacquie ANSELL - LAMB 1970 Knutsford (Bowden) Found dead in field near to A556 possibly was hitch-hiking through area. http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/eastmidlands/series7/unsolved-murders.shtml
Brenda EVANS 1977 Chester (Pulford) Found dead in remote rural location near to village
Leslie GUNTRIP 1978 Winsford Found dead with head injuries at his home address. http://www.ellesmereportpioneer.co.uk/ellesmere-port-news/local-ellesmere-port-news/2001/09/12/new-police-bid-to-catch-killer-55940-11300369/
Lynn TRENHOLM 1991 Chester Found dead in massage parlour / sauna. http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/chester-news/local-chester-news/2009/03/25/dna-techniques-could-finally-solve-mystery-of-chester-massage-parlour-killer-59067-23233709/
Vera ANDERSON 1991 Warrington Found dead  in Tannery Lane, Penketh. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1502254.stm
Jonathan BALL / Tim PARRY 1993 Warrington Jonathan and Tim died in the Bridge Street bombings, a suspected PIRA attack. http://www2.wigantoday.net/retro_wigan/pdfs/SPW-19-03-08-002-WSPW.pdf
Tracey MERTENS 1994 Congleton (Eaton) Found with serious burn injuries in the grounds of Eaton Church. Died the following morning. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/for_christmas/_new_year/murder_mystery/35861.stm
PRIMROSE 1996 Ellesmere Port Found with head injuries at home address.  Died approx 6 months later.
Charles JONES 1998 Northwich Died following being found in the street with a head injury, possibly attacked by unknown persons. http://archive.thisischeshire.co.uk/1998/2/18/242354.html
CALLUM (baby) 1998 Warrington Unidentified infant found abandoned at Callands. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/a-life-too-brief-1169074.html
Julia WEBB 1998 Northwich Found dead in wooded are off Kennel lane Cuddington. http://archive.thisischeshire.co.uk/1998/9/3/237866.html
Alan MORRIS 1998 Chester  The common –law partner of Morris was charged with his murder. The accused was later tried and acquitted at Warrington Crown Court. Information regarding the release of common law partner from court.  http://www.wiki-north-east.co.uk/article.aspx?id=514626
 Katherine OBRIEN 1999 Runcorn The Partner of Katherine O’Brien was charged with her murder. The accused was tried in May 2000 and was found 'not-guilty'. 
Jody BURNS 2001 Runcorn Jody was involved a fight involving members of a group of up to sixty people at the Taxi rank, High St, Runcorn. As a result of injuries he sustained, he died several days later.  Two fellow participants in the fight, were arrested in connection. They were NOT charged with manslaughter / murder but were charged with public order offences arising from the incident. http://archive.thisischeshire.co.uk/2001/11/21/205022.html
Shafilea Ahmed 2003 (September) Warrington Shafilea went missing from her home in Warrington in September 2003. In February 2004 Shafilea was found in Cumbria on the bank of the River Kent near Sedgwick. Her parents were arrested on suspicion of kidnapping her. They were not charged with any offences. At the inquest into her death in January 2008, HM Coroner for Cumbria found that Shafilea had been unlawfully killed. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1575306/Shafilea-Ahmed-was-murdered.html

In order to assist you I have included links to published information in relation to each murder where I have been able to locate them.

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