Parents of cold case murder victim Melanie Hall offer £50k reward for help catching her killer
The university graduate, 25, vanished after leaving a nightclub in Bath, Somerset, in June 1996 and her remains were found dumped by a motorway 13 years later
THE parents of a university graduate murdered 20 years ago have offered a £50,000 reward to catch her killer – saying cops are on the brink of a major breakthrough.
Melanie Hall, 25, vanished after leaving a nightclub in Bath, Somerset, in June 1996 and her remains were found dumped by a motorway 13 years later.
No-one has ever been charged with her murder but police last week said they now had a DNA profile from where her body was found.
Her parents Steve and Pat said they were putting up ‘a life-changing amount’ of their own money.
It is the first time they have offered a reward but they said they believed detectives were now on the brink of cracking the case with the DNA development.
Police also received some potentially significant information following a Crimewatch appeal on the 20th anniversary of Melanie’s disappearance on June 9.
Steve, 72, of Bradford-on-Avon, Wilts., said: “Someone may have been wavering over whether to provide information for a long time.
”This amount of money is life-changing and I hope it will provide the incentive for them to do the right thing.
“The loss of Melanie has been life-changing for us and we’ll never be the same people as we were before Melanie disappeared.
”We’ve been kept fully informed by the police of updates in this investigation and we know the development of a DNA profile from an item found at
the scene where Melanie’s remains were found is a major leap forward.
“Melanie’s murder has had a terrible impact on our family and I know my wife Pat is tortured by what happened to our daughter and will never get over it.”
He added: “I believe this inquiry will be solved by one of two things.
“Either through the advancement of DNA helping to identify who was responsible, or someone who knows a crucial piece of information having the moral fibre to contact the police.
“I hope by us offering this reward, it’ll encourage this person or these people to come forward.”
Melanie was last seen at 1.10am on Sunday, June 9 1996 on a night out with friends, sitting on a stool at the edge of the dance-floor in Cadillacs nightclub, Bath.
The date – the same day England drew 1-1 with Switzerland in the opening game of the football Euro 96 Championships – was the last time Melanie was seen alive.
Her remains were found next to junction 14 of the M5 in Thornbury, Glos., around 25 miles from Bath by a workman on 5 October 2009.
Her belongings – including a pale blue silk dress, a black satchel and silver drop earrings – have never been found.
Detective Superintendent Andy Bevan said he hoped the cash will lead to someone’s “very dark and terrible secret” finally being revealed.
He said: “Melanie’s family have been a pillar of support to our investigation team and we’re doing everything we can to relieve their agony and find who was responsible for her murder.
”We’re continuing to work with forensic scientists to develop a DNA profile from an item found where Melanie’s remains were discovered.
Can you help police trace Melanie Hall's killer?
– Were you at Cadillacs on the day Melanie disappeared? Did you see her after 1.10am, leaving the club or otherwise? Who was she with?
– Did you see any suspicious activity or a vehicle parked on the northbound J14 slipway of the M5 – the Thornbury turn off – on Sunday 9 June 1996 or days afterwards?
– Are you concerned about the change in behaviour of a friend or relative, or anyone showing a particular interest in this inquiry?
– Do you have information on where Melanie’s clothing or belongings may be?
– They include: blue silk dress with a round neck, black suede mule shoes with straps across the front and an open toe, size 5 or 6.
– Cream long-sleeved jacket, black satchel, makeup, Next watch, silver drop earrings, Midland chequebook
“There’s no doubt this brings us an important step closer to finding her killer.
“We hope the money being offered by Steve and Pat will encourage someone to come forward with information.
“Someone out there has a very dark and terrible secret, which is getting closer to being revealed.”
Anyone with information should call the Operation Denmark Incident Room on 0117 952 9788 or dial 101.
The £50,000 reward will be for information provided to the police which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for Melanie’s murder.