The list of unexplained deaths and disappearances is distressingly long and stretches back to the 1960s. A spokeswoman for Avon and Somerset Police said: 'These unsolved murder cases will never be closed until the killers are convicted. All unsolved murder cases are regularly reviewed. We have made enormous strides during the past two decades, not only in scientific techniques but in interviewing techniques. But despite these advances, in all these cases we still need the help of the public. In every case there is someone who knows something, someone who may have doubts or suspicions or someone who is living a lie. We would urge anyone with any information to contact Crimestoppers.
Former Chippenham rugby player EVAN JONES, from Stokes Croft, was found beaten to death on March 13, 2002. He had been kicked and punched in an attack described by police as vicious and sustained. The 46-year-old father-of-two was attacked shortly after leaving his local pub, The Beaufort, in Montpelier.
In 1976, nurse SUSAN DONAGHUE lay sleeping in her Stoke Bishop basement flat, when an intruder broke in. He hit her seven times with a truncheon and sexually assaulted the 44-year-old divorcee, leaving behind the murder weapon, a pair of bloodstained gloves and a tobacco tin. Police believe the killer was local, in his early 20s, and 'sexually inadequate'.
SHELLEY MORGAN 34, from Windmill Hill, took her children to the school bus on June 11, 1984, and was never seen alive again. Her naked body was found the following October in a shallow grave in a remote copse in Backwell, near Bristol.
The case of 11-year-old PHILIP GREEN is one of the oldest of Avon and Somerset's unsolved cases. Philip was killed as he collected lost golf balls at Shirehampton golf course on March 31, 1970. His body was found under trees on the course. He had been hit about the head several times and strangled. Nearby was the bloodstained piece of wood used to kill him.
Church-going railway steward KEITH BURGESS was supposed to be at work on the day of December 17, 1989. But when a neighbour went to feed his cat she found the 38-year-old lying in a pool of blood. He had been beaten to death with a hammer and stabbed. Mr Burgess, 38, who was gay, had earlier been to All Saints Church in Clifton, Bristol, where he was a server. A scruffy man in a bobble hat was seen hanging around Mr Burgess' flat in Duchess Road, Clifton, between 12.30pm and 12.40pm. Police believe Mr Burgess let the killer in as there were no signs of a forced entry. The man in the bobble hat, possibly a vagrant from the Swindon area, has never been traced.
Stockbroker's wife BERYL CULVERWELL was found dead on January 13, 1978, in the garage of at her home in Widcombe Hill, Bath. The 52-year-old mother-of-three had been clubbed over the head with a shotgun and stabbed 20 times with a bread knife. The telephone wires of the home had been cut but nothing was stolen apart from a small amount of cash. Mr Culverwell, who died in June 1989, found his wife's body. Police believe she may have disturbed an intruder.
Bristol prostitute WENDY JENKINS was killed at the time that Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe was stalking the North of England on the hunt for his victims. Miss Jenkins, aged 32, was found buried under a heap of sand in Backfields, St Paul's, Bristol, in August 1979. Her skull had been smashed in.
The disappearance of MARY BASTHOLM in Gloucester in 1968 is still one of the West's greatest mysteries and could be linked to the region's most notorious serial killer. Miss Basthom, who was only 15, was last seen at a bus stop in the city's Bristol Road, on her way to her boyfriend's home. She never arrived. The circumstances of her disappearance sparked suggestions that she could have been one of Fred West's earliest victims and at Rosemary West's trial a witness claimed that Fred said Mary was one of 20 victims buried on farmland in the Gloucester area.
Somerset pensioner WINIFRED LOCKE, 80, was murdered at her home in North Petherton, Bridgwater, in October 1983. Whoever sexually assaulted and strangled her could have been local, because of his knowledge of the area.
VIOLET MILSOM, 62, who was found dead in her Bristol flat on October 1, 1985. Mrs Milsom, from Ashley Road, St Paul's, had been strangled with a piece of her clothing and her hands had been tied with a pink belt. Her body had been mutilated with a five-inch knife.
Prostitute LINDA GUEST, aged 35, worked in the St Paul's area of Bristol and was stabbed to death on April 21, 1985. Her body was dumped in a secluded llane in Frampton Cotterell, near Bristol. The mother-of-three, who was also known as Jackie Waines, was thought to have been sexually assaulted before she met her death.
GLENIS CARRUTHERS, from Buckinghamshire, left a party held for a 21-year-old friend on a freezing night in January 1974. The streets were pitch black as the country was in the depths of an energy crisis. Only the most essential street lighting was on. Somewhere in the darkness near Bristol Zoo, in Clifton, she met her killer. A witness saw what he believed was a 'courting couple' on grass near the zoo. But the man got up alone and later the body of the 20-year-old woman was found. She may have been grabbed from behind. Her death was the last major murder tackled by the old Bristol Constabulary. More than 16,000 people were interviewed.
If 17-year-old MELANIE ROAD had taken a taxi home on the night of June 8, 1984, it is likely that she would still be alive today. The A-level student from Bath left a citycentre nightclub that evening but, for some reason, decided to walk to her home in Lansdown. Somewhere along that route, she met an attacker who sexually assaulted her and stabbed her repeatedly in the pelvic area, leaving her to die in a pool of blood. More than 100 officers were drafted in, the area was combed and appeals for witnesses were issued - all to no avail.
DEREK GRAIN was beaten to death in November 1980. His body was found in quiet Brandon Lane, Clifton, after he had spent the evening at two nightclubs in nearby Park Street. The 39-year-old British Aerospace engineer may have been attacked by a gang who kicked him in the head as he lay dying.
HELEN FLEET, of Weston-super-Mare, was stabbed, beaten and strangled while walking her dog in Worlebury Woods in 1987. A male suspect, who would now be in his 30s, was seen running away from the spot where Mrs Fleet's body was found. A youth had been seen talking to her several times.
Vagrant MICHAEL FAHEY was found dead on waste ground off Ashley Road, Bristol, just yards from a main road crowded with people going to work. The 33-year-old, who had been homeless for five years, was bludgeoned to death in January 1989.
Fears for railway worker MARK YENDELL grew when he failed to arrive at his Bristol home in October 1984. Later, it was discovered that he had been battered around the head with a blunt instrument and dumped in the city's docks. Police found the 32year-old's abandoned car at Welsh Back and traced droplets of blood from there to the water.
Three final cases that still remain open are those of GEORGE THURLEY, aged 46, who died from a ruptured intestine after being attacked in Bristol in 1989, and LOUISE JANE DUNNE, aged 74, from Easton, who was killed in June 1967.
2008 - New appeal to find killer of Bristol father DEAN JEFFREY. Detectives have renewed their plea for help in cracking the unsolved murder of a Bristol father-of-three, two years on. Dean Jeffrey was attacked near his home in Ridgeway Parade, Fishponds, and died a week later in hospital from his injuries.
Police determined to crack 24 unsolved Bristol murders
Oct 2009 - Melanie Hall bones find gives new hopes of finding killer, say experts. The discovery of Melanie Hall's remains in bin liners near the M5 in Bristol has given detectives renewed optimism of finding her killer, say experts.
Forensic scientists were beginning the painstaking process of poring over the grim contents of the scene in heavy undergrowth close to the motorway near Thornbury. The best chance to catch her murderer has long gone, but thanks to developments in DNA tracing, her parents should remain "optimistic", according to Dr Colin Dark, a major crimes adviser with the Forensic Science Service.
And it could be the bin bags the killer used, rather than the bones themselves, that prove crucial to the investigation into the 25-year-old hospital clerical worker's death. Scientists in Chepstow will now be analysing Melanie's remains, and they will concentrate on discovering any DNA traces left by the killer or those who might have dumped the body. Plastic bags retain fingerprints and bodily fluid better than other materials, according to Dr Dark.
He said: "I think her parents have reason to hope. Our best chances will have diminished but there is a lot of opportunity still. If I was in this case, I would be optimistic."
He added: "It is still plausible there would be fingerprints, they (plastic bags) retain them very well."
Detectives at a press conference yesterday refused to go into detail of what exactly was found at the scene, although it emerged that a ring, a family heirloom which Melanie always wore, helped to identify her remains. The spotlight will shine once more on exactly what did happen on the fateful summer's night in June 1996 when she disappeared after a night out with friends in Bath.
While the discovery of Melanie Hall's body has kick-started the quest to find her killer, detectives say they are as determined as ever to crack the 23 other unsolved murders in the Bristol area.
Some of the crimes have been a mystery for more than 60 years, others are still painfully fresh in the memories of the victims' families.
But almost all have been re-examined by Avon and Somerset police's Major Crime Review Team (MCRT) in the last nine months, the Bristol Evening Post can reveal.
Head of the eight-strong team, Detective Chief Inspector Mike Carter, held a conference last Thursday at which detectives discussed the unsolved cases and any potential leads or developments.
Little did they know, a few days later one of the most high-profile mysteries was about to be blown wide open by the discovery of Melanie Hall's body yards from the M5, near Thornbury.
DCI Carter said last night: "These cases are never closed until they are solved.
"For the last nine months the team have been working very hard on finding out what we have and where we are with 24 of the murder cases."
Mr Carter took over the team last November. They have been trawling through thousands of documents, papers and exhibits in a bid to crack the cases and find out whether new technology – particularly DNA – can be used to make progress.
"This has been a huge task," Mr Carter added. "We have 49 boxes of exhibits and files for the case of Melanie Road (who was killed in Bath in 1984).
"I was really pleased with the professional approach of my team, the work they put in and the information they could provide.
"I am satisfied now that if a victim's family came to me now I would be able to say what we've done and what we are doing. The families and the victims have not been forgotten."
In a bid to keep the crimes in the public psyche, Mr Carter said the team will publicise the cases on their anniversaries from now on. There are 27 unsolved murder cases in the force area, 23 of which – with 24 victims – are linked to greater Bristol.
The oldest is that of Robert Parrington-Jackson, 32, who was shot dead as he worked in the office at Odeon Cinema in Union Street on May 29, 1946.
Although officially unsolved, in 1993 – and again last month – the son of the alleged killer named him as Billy "The Fish" Fisher, a petty crook from South Wales who travelled with an accomplice to rob the cinema. He admitted, on his death bed in 1989, shooting Mr Parrington-Jackson with a Colt 45.
The most recent unsolved murder is that of Dean Jeffery, who died on September 28, 2006, after he was assaulted in the Ridgeway Parade area of Fishponds a week earlier. Despite a reconstruction and continued appeals, his killer, or killers, have not been found.
Mr Jeffery's case was not part of the recent review as it is still with the Major Investigation Team.
The MCRT was set up in February 2003 to revisit historical crimes.
There have been numerous successes in cracking cases, in particular "stranger rapes", and so far 12 offenders have been jailed using DNA technology.
The latest conviction was that of Vincent Dally, 29, of Bowring Close, Hartcliffe, who was jailed last month for attempted rape, 14 years after attacking a 39-year-old woman in Hartcliffe.
In an interview with the Post earlier this year, head of CID Louisa Rolfe said: "Some cases are very, very challenging. If you can't get to the bottom of the case it's really frustrating for everyone involved. But we never let go of these cases."
Since Melanie Hall's body was found, her murder has become a "live" case. Forensic examinations are still being carried out.
If you have any information, call police on 0845 4567000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
The unsolved Bristol murders in full:
Robert Parrington-Jackson
May 29, 1946
The 32-year-old was shot in the head with a Colt 45 while working in the office at Odeon Cinema in Union Street.
Although officially "unsolved", in 1993 the son of the killer had finally named him. Billy "The Fish" Fisher, a petty crook from South Wales who travelled with an accomplice to rob the cinema, admitted, on his death bed in 1989, panicking and shooting him twice.
George Black
January 7, 1949
Married 52-year-old George, from Clifton, was killed during a robbery at Lloyds bank, Wells Road, Knowle. A man in a trilby shot Mr Black dead, then disappeared. Mr Black was in charge and struggled with the robber and was shot twice.
Carrying a briefcase full of money, the killer left the bank, got into an Austin Saloon which had been stolen that morning, and drove off.
June and Royston Sheasby
July 1, 1957
The siblings went missing while playing in Snuff Mills Park on a warm evening in June.
A massive hunt for them by emergency services and thousands of volunteers took place. But 11 days later, any hopes of finding the brother and sister alive were shattered by the shrill blast of a police whistle.
Their bodies were later found in a shallow grave within the park.
They had been battered to death – possibly with a stone.
Louise Jane Dunne
June 28, 1967
The 74-year-old, from Easton, was raped and strangled in her own home in Britannia Road. Friend Vi Allene noticed a window slightly open and climbed through, finding her prostrate body lying on the floor.
Philip Green
March 31, 1970
Philip, of Sea Mills, was killed as he collected lost golf balls at Shirehampton golf course.
His body was found under trees on the course. He had been hit about the head several times and strangled. Nearby, was the bloodstained piece of wood used to kill him.
Glenis Carruthers
January 19, 1974
The 20-year-old from Buckinghamshire left a 21st birthday party held for a friend on a freezing January night.
Somewhere in the darkness near Bristol Zoo she met her killer. A witness saw what he believed was a "courting couple" on grass nearby. But the man got up alone and later the body was found. More than 16,000 people were interviewed.
Susan Donaghue
August 5, 1976
The 44-year-old nurse lay sleeping in her Stoke Bishop basement flat, when an intruder broke in.
He hit her seven times with a truncheon and sexually assaulted her, leaving behind the murder weapon, a pair of bloodstained gloves and a tobacco tin. Police believed the killer was local, in his early 20s, and "sexually inadequate".
Wendy Jenkins
August 28, 1979
The Bristol prostitute was killed at the time that Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe was stalking the North of England on the hunt for his victims.
Miss Jenkins, 32, was found with stab and head injuries partially buried under a heap of sand in Backfields, St Paul's.
Derek Grain
October 31, 1980
Mr Grain was beaten to death. His body was found in Brandon Lane, Clifton, after he had spent the evening at two nightclubs in nearby Park Street. The 39-year-old British Aerospace engineer may have been attacked by a gang who kicked him in the head as he lay dying.
Mark Yendell
October 12, 1984
Fears for the railway worker grew when he failed to arrive at his Bristol home.
Later, it was discovered that he had been battered around the head with a blunt instrument and dumped in Bristol docks. Police found the 32-year-old's abandoned car at Welsh Back and traced droplets of blood from there to the water.
Shelley Morgan
Body found on October 14, 1994
The 34-year-old, from Windmill Hill, took her children to the school bus on June 11, 1984, and was never seen alive again.
Her naked body was found the following October in a shallow grave in a remote copse in Backwell, near Bristol.]
Linda Guest
April 21, 1985
The 35-year-old prostitute worked in St Paul's and was stabbed to death.Her body was dumped in a secluded lane in Frampton Cotterell. The mother-of-three, who was also known as Jackie Waines, was thought to have been sexually assaulted before she died.
Violet Milsom
October 1, 1985
Mrs Milsom, 62, was found dead in her flat in Ashley Road, St Paul's, on October 1, 1985.
She had been strangled with a piece of her clothes and her hands had been tied with a pink belt. Her body had been mutilated with a five-inch knife.
Helen Fleet
March 28, 1987
The 66-year-old from Weston was stabbed, beaten and strangled while walking her dog in Worlebury Woods.
A male suspect – believed to be in his 20s at the time – was seen running away from the spot where Mrs Fleet's body was found. A youth had been seen talking to her several times.
Michael Fahey
January 12, 1989
Vagrant Mr Fahey was found dead on waste ground off Ashley Road, just yards from a main road crowded with people going to work.
The 33-year-old, who had been homeless for five years, was bludgeoned to death.
George Thorley
July 28, 1989
Mr Thorley died following an assault. He was 46-years-old when he suffered a ruptured intestine in the attack in Bristol.
Keith Burgess
December 17, 1989
Church-going railway steward Mr Burgess was supposed to be at work, but when a neighbour went to feed his cat she found the 38-year-old lying in a pool of blood.
He had been beaten to death with a hammer and stabbed. A scruffy man in a bobble hat was seen hanging around Mr Burgess' flat in Duchess Road, Clifton.
John Kilcoyne
January 28, 1995
Found in a bed-sit in St Pauls with stab wound to neck. The 47-year-old and two men had been drinking heavily on the night of his death and police have struggled to get to the bottom of what happened.
Melanie Hall
June 9, 1996
The 25-year-old went missing after a night out at Cadillac's nightclub in Bath.
Her body was not found until this week, off the M5 near Thornbury. She had been out with her German boyfriend of a few weeks, Dr Philip Kurlbaum, whom she worked with at Bath's Royal United Hospital.
Ann Myring
June 25, 1997
The a mother-of-two from Stoke Gifford disappeared after leaving work colleagues at Hewlett Packard, in Filton, and her body has never been found.
Her husband Brian was charged with murder but was cleared in December, 1999, by a jury at Bristol Crown Court.
Christopher Hewitt
June 10, 2001
The 18-year-old had only been living in Bristol for a few weeks when he was killed.
He was stabbed to death during a street brawl outside the Jolly Roger pub in All Hallows Road. The young Jamaican suffered multiple stab wounds. Detectives believe two knives were used in the attack. A group of about 15 people sat on a wall just yards away.
Evan Jones
March 13, 2002
The former Chippenham rugby player was found beaten to death.
He had been kicked and punched in an attack described by police as "vicious and sustained". The 46-year-old father-of-two was attacked shortly after leaving his local pub, The Beaufort, in Montpelier.
Dean Jeffery
September 28, 2006
Mr Jeffery was assaulted in the Ridgeway Parade area of Fishponds and his injuries were so serious he died just over a week later.
Despite a reconstruction and continued appeals for information on Avon and Somerset police's website, his killer, or killers, have not been found.
