Angel Meadows Murder

In February 2010, Crimewatch featured the case of the female remains found unearthed by workmen in Collyhurst, Manchester, an area just outside of the town centre, known locally as Angel Meadows.

Initial investigation of the bones showed the woman had suffered several serious injuries, including a fractured collarbone, jawbone and neck.

It is thought that the woman was born between 1950 and 1954

Police believe that the body was wrapped up in blue carpet off-cuts and dumped in a narrow space between a retaining wall and a fence.

Greater Manchester Police are now more than a year into their investigation and they now know a great deal more about the woman and they're appealing for help again.

As a result of the first appeal police had numerous calls from viewers reporting friends and family members who were missing.

They followed up all of these reports and carried out DNA comparisons but unfortunately as yet they have been unable to establish any family links or identify who she is.

From an examination of the skeleton police have been able to determine the female victim was aged between 18 and 30 years, approximately 5'1" to 5'8" in height, but most likely to be mid range, 5'3" to 5'6".

Determining this female's ethnic background is difficult, but it is believed that she is more likely to be a European female, but they are unable to exclude her from being from the Middle East or Indian Sub- Continents.

The dark blue carpet was cut to fit inside a Ford Cortina

This woman has a number of fillings, so it is presumed that she was someone who visited the dentist regularly. She also had a number of teeth missing, in particular her first right upper molar, which would have been noticeable when she smiled broadly.

Investigators then went on to use a geochemist to look at the levels of carbon within her teeth and bones (Carbon 14 Testing). These results point to the date of birth of our unidentified female as being between 1950 and 1954.

From both the results of the geochemist and the examination of the skeleton, officers now believe that this woman died sometime in the 1970s or 80s.

As well as working with the geochemist, investigators have also enlisted the help of a forensic anthropologist from Dundee University who has been able to produce a facial reconstruction from the skull to show what the victim may have looked like at the time.

Officers are urging people to have a good look at her face and think if they recognise her.

The woman would have disappeared between around 30 and 40 years ago. She was subjected to a violent attack and her body was left at Angel Meadows in Manchester.

Along with the skeleton, officers found a pinafore dress that had a distinctive pattern featuring a man and a woman with the words 'Madam' and 'Monsieur'.

Police now know that numerous prints of this type were manufactured and worn between 1973 and 1976.

The method of manufacture and the type of fabric used would tend to suggest that the pinafore was cheaply made and mass produced for the lower end of the high street, possibly a market stall.

Also found was a blue 'skinny-rib' jumper, this was typically worn under pinafore in the mid-seventies and a pair of tights.

The woman was not wearing the pinafore or the tights when she was discovered, but both of these items have been forensically linked to the victim by fibres.

Officers think that the fact that the woman was not wearing the dress or the tights may indicate that there was a sexual motive to the attack.

As well as the clothes a single black shoe was discovered. Officers now know that the shoe was manufactured in the mid 1980s due to the method of manufacture used and a serial number that was discovered in the heel of the shoe.

Originally the shoe had a bow attached on the heel at the back, which was also found nearby.

Officers have managed to trace who made the shoe to a company in Rossendale Lancashire. However they are unsure of the significance of the shoe at this stage or indeed if in fact it did belong to the victim.

There is a significant period of time between the manufacture of the pinafore and that of the shoe.

A blue striped jacket was also found at the scene. This jacket has been dated as having been manufactured during the 1980s.

Detectives don't know if there is any connection between the jacket and the victim, but would like to hear from anyone who may have any information about it.

As well as the items of clothing several pieces of carpet were also found with the remains.

Police now know that there were three different carpets found at the scene - orange, blue and dark blue - all of varying sizes and shapes.

It is now known that the orange carpet was manufactured after 1968.

The orange carpet was found in two pieces. One piece has previously been fitted to a stairway, and it is believed that the second was fitted to a hallway or lounge area.

It is known that the single long piece of dark blue carpet recovered is much newer in manufacture than the other two carpets.

The mid-blue carpet is the on the police are most interested in, it is cut up into nine individual pieces cut to fit the inside of a vehicle.

Officers now know that it was cut to fit inside a Ford Cortina.

There also are a number of burn patterns within the carpets.

Head profile pointing left

Head profile pointing right

• Any person with knowledge of the victim

• Any person with knowledge of the carpets / or when they were dumped at the scene

• Any person with knowledge of a fire at the scene

• Any retired Police Officers who worked that area in the 1970s / 1980s

• Any person with knowledge of the shoe or the jacket

Please use the form below to contact us about this appeal (items marked * are required).