Christopher Halliwell murder victims’ parents believe he is responsible for more killings
THE devastated mother of one of Christopher Halliwell's victims has revealed she "always thought" the killer was involved in more murders.
Elaine Pickford spoke out about her fear more victims had been targeted by the same cold-blooded killer who abducted and murdered her daughter Sian O'Callaghan - with cops now searching for more bodies possibly hidden by Halliwell.
Elaine, whose 22-year-old daughter was missing for five days before her body was found in 2011, said she hoped the police search would give other families much needed closure.
She said: "I always thought there were more but I thought it would be a year not months until it came out.
"They (police) must have a good reason to search and I hope it brings families of missing people closure if anything does come up."
Halliwell, 53, was given a full-life jail term for the murder and then convicted last year of murdering a second woman, Becky Godden, 20, in eight years earlier in 2003.
Elaine, who lives in Swindon, said that she was surprised that police had new information so soon, with the legal elements of the the two murders only finalised in September last year.
She said: "I don't want to speculate on anything at the moment but I wondered why there was eight years between Becky and Sian.
"I wouldn't say it has churned up particular emotions for me because the worst has already happened to my family.
"If there are more, I only had five days, (before Sian's body was found). These people have had years so I hope they get answers and closure.
She is not the only one to think that Halliwell could be responsible for more murders, with John Godden, the father of murdered Becky, telling : "I think Halliwell has killed other girls, and I think he has got rid of the bodies.
"I feel angry about it all.
"They're bringing it all up again but they've done nothing for Becky. This should have been done six years ago. Why has it been left until now?"
Dad-of-three Halliwell abducted office administrator Sian as she walked home from a night out in Swindon and dumped her body in Uffington, Oxfordshire.
He then confessed to killing prostitute Becky after he picked her up from Swindon, had sex with her and then strangled her in January 2003.
The beast led police to a field in Eastleach, Gloucestershire, where her remains were discovered.
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But police now appear to have reopened the case, removing a number of wheelie bins plastered with biohazard stickers from the depraved monster’s former home in Swindon, Wiltshire, on Monday.
Police have been digging through two gardens and garages outside Halliwell's former home in a hunt for more bodies.
The force said the investigations in Broad Street, which are expected to last five days, are based on new intelligence they received.
A forensic tent was set up over the entrance to a garage at the rear of his former home, and power tools were heard from outside.
It is understood police have never searched the exterior of the property before, and the new search is unrelated to its current owners.
During Halliwell's last trial the detective leading the investigation, DS Steve Fulcher, told a jury that led him to believe he had slaughtered more women.
He claimed Halliwell couldn't remember the year he had killed Becky, saying it "led me to conclude that there were other victims".
And Mr Fulcher, who nailed Halliwell for killing Sian, thinks he may be linked to missing chef Claudia Lawrence.
Claudia’s 2009 disappearance in York had similarities and Mr Fulcher said: "His father lived a few streets away. It fits his pattern.”
Det Supt Sean Memory, who led the case against Halliwell, said: "I can't rule out there are other victims. I want to understand why there's a gap."
Possible victims include sex worker Sally Ann John, 24, who disappeared in September 1995 and was never seen again.
Sandra Brewin disappeared from her parents' home in 1994 aged 21 just months after she became penfriends with a man who was in prison in Oxfordshire.
Other unsolved missing person cases in the area include college worker mum-of-four Linda Razzell, 41, who disappeared from Swindon in 2002.
Her husband, Glyn, has spent 13 years behind bars for the killing but continues to protest his innocence.
Halliwell was also said to be obsessed with Linda four years before her murder after doing building work on their home in Swindon.
The former cabbie would apparently stalk the mum and do sketches of her.
The whereabouts of Vietnamese immigrant Thi Hai Nguyen, 20, have also been unknown since she went missing from her temporary home in Swindon in June 2005.
Speaking last year, Wiltshire Police dismissed all the claims, saying the speculation is "very distressing", and confirmed that no links have been found between the cases.
Chief Constable Mike Veale, speaking on BBC Points West, said last year: "The speculation is a disgrace.
"The speculation has caused devastation and trauma and the speculation is inaccurate. There are no links to any other murders in this country."
Last year, it emerged that twisted Halliwell, who was obsessed with Moors murderer Myra Hindley, had spoken in 1985 of his desire to become a serial killer
In a phone call from prison, he allegedly claimed that officers wished to interview him about eight murders.
Speaking outside Bristol Crown Court last year, Detective Superintendent Sean Memory said: "He talked candidly in 1985 about wanting to be a serial killer and I genuinely believe that's a distinct possibility."
Neighbours have since spoken of their surprise that police had descended on the home, with one man saying: "I knew him.
"When my son was out, he used to have a key and take the dog for a walk.
"It's chilling, he used to come to my neighbour's barbecues."
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