Melanie Hall murder

Melanie Hall was a loving daughter and sister who had much to look forward to. She was 25, a recent psychology graduate from the University of Bath and was about to move into her new home. But in early hours of Sunday 9 June 1996, after a night out with friends, she disappeared from Cadillacs nightclub in Bath.

Thirteen years later, a motorway workman clearing vegetation next to the northwest slip-road at junction 14 of the M5 near Thornbury, south Gloucestershire, found human bones and a skull. Dental records and a gold patterned ring on her finger confirmed that these were the remains of Melanie Hall.

Her family now know that she had brutal head injuries before she was tied up with blue rope in black bin bags and dumped at the side of the motorway. After years of uncertainty, they now need to know who was responsible.

Melanie was last seen alive at 1.10am that morning 13 years ago. What happened to her next is a mystery. Police are conducting a huge operation incorporating forensic analysis on the bones, bags, rope, ring and surrounding vegetation. They are particularly interested in a set of three Ford car keys dating back to 1996 found at the scene. These include a red master ‘programming’ vehicle key, two black vehicle keys and a black tag with a number on them – T144213.

But officers cannot rely on forensic evidence alone. They are certain that there are people out there who know what happened to Melanie in Cadillac’s nightclub, where she went, who she was with and why she came to be left by the M5 at junction 14.

• • Do you know someone who could have done this to Melanie?

• • Did you see Melanie after 1.10am on the morning of Sunday 9 June 1996? Do you know what happened to her in Cadillac’s nightclub, where she went, who she was with and why she came to be left by the M5 at junction 14?

• • Do you know anything about the Ford keys? There was a red master ‘programming’ vehicle key, two black vehicle keys and black tag with a number on them – T144213. What vehicle do they relate to and why would the red ‘master’ key be on the same ring as the others? Was there a fourth ring?

• • Do you know anything about someone who had a Ford vehicle who took a length of blue rope at the time of Melanie’s disappearance?

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