UK UK: Family make fresh appeal over Shona Stevens' 1994 murder in Irvine, Scotland

[dotr]

The daughter of a woman murdered in Ayrshire 30 years ago has appealed for help to find her killer, as a £20,000 reward has been offered for information.

£20K reward to help solve 1994 cold case murder

Shona Stevens, 31, was attacked and killed near her home in Irvine 30 years ago.

www.bbc.co.uk

Shona Stevens, 31, was attacked near her home in Irvine in November 1994 as she returned from a local shop.

She suffered severe head injuries and died three days later. Her daughter Candice, now aged 37, said the family "still want justice".

Police Scotland said it was determined to solve the case using leads not available at the time.

Merge with existing thread?

D

UK Post in thread 'UK: Family make fresh appeal over Shona Stevens' 1994 murder in Irvine, Scotland'

Oct 29, 2021

Barely 6 months prior to the murder of Shona Stevens, there was another brutal killing of a woman in Irvine which also remains unsolved, but strangely has attracted far less media attention.

Like Shona 46 year old widow Agnes Montgomery (known locally as Nan Love) was beaten to death, although Nan's murder took place in her own home.

Police have never found her killer, however suspected that it was likely a local, and someone with whom Nan was acquainted.

Police have never linked the 2 cases publicly, however the proximity in both time and location, as well as the similarity in...

• dotr

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[dotr]

rbbm. Nov 10 2024

'Murder without motive': Shona Stevens cold case enters 30th year

Last weekend marks 30 years since the brutal murder of young Irvine mum Shona Stevens left the town reeling.

www.irvinetimes.com

''The 31-year-old was bludgeoned to death on her way home from the shop in Bourtreehill on November 10, 1994. Her killer has never been identified.
Shona lived in Alder Green, Middleton Park, with her mum Mhairi Smith and seven-year-old daughter Candice Stevens.
She decided to pop to the shops, just an ordinary task on what seemed like another ordinary day.''
Forensic experts said she was subjected to a frenzied, eight-minute attack just yards from her back door.
She was left beaten, battered and unconscious.''

'News of the attack left Irvine folk in fear. It was the third murder recorded in the town during 1994.''

''Officers appealed for viewers’ help with an unusual object found at the crime scene which some believed could hold the key to finding Shona’s killer: a novelty keyring. Detectives believed there was is a chance it could’ve been left behind by the perpetrator.''

 

[ZeroAlpha]

Mods, if you could delete this post or merge it with the other thread, thanks

 

[ZeroAlpha]

The murder took place 10 minutes from where I lived. I remember people who were too scared to walk through Middleton Park and took a longer route around the area.

 

[ZeroAlpha]

The thinking among locals at the time was that this was some random nutter in an opportunistic attack. It may well have been. I feel that it was targeted. Someone local, or someone who knew her. Her estranged husband just happened to be back in the UK at the time of the attack. Special Branch questioned him on behalf of Strathclyde Police, which I always found odd.

This is the location where the attack took place: Google Maps

You can see the open area where the air ambulance landed.

 

[Jambuster]

Vintage 1980s rude man keyring in WA9 Helens for £2.00 for sale | Shpock

Vintage 1980s rude man keyring Pull the chain and he drops his pants. Very funny. In great condition

www.shpock.com

Don't actually think that keyring thing is relevant but who knows. Anyway I upscaled the image 2x using AI and painted some blue trousers on it, using similar colours to the tie and when I reverse image search it returns someone currently selling them for £2. Using that other image and doing a search returns a character name of "C.MOR CHEEKS" and seen on another website it was made around the 80s in Taiwan. I honestly think this is as someone said earlier just been laying nearby at the time but who knows.

I'm from near where this happened but was only 4 years old at the time. I just seen the new appeal from Crimewatch with her daughter speaking and a reconstruction. So awful for the family.

 

[ZeroAlpha]

Vintage 1980s rude man keyring in WA9 Helens for £2.00 for sale | Shpock

Vintage 1980s rude man keyring Pull the chain and he drops his pants. Very funny. In great condition

www.shpock.com

Don't actually think that keyring thing is relevant but who knows. Anyway I upscaled the image 2x using AI and painted some blue trousers on it, using similar colours to the tie and when I reverse image search it returns someone currently selling them for £2. Using that other image and doing a search returns a character name of "C.MOR CHEEKS" and seen on another website it was made around the 80s in Taiwan. I honestly think this is as someone said earlier just been laying nearby at the time but who knows.

I'm from near where this happened but was only 4 years old at the time. I just seen the new appeal from Crimewatch with her daughter speaking and a reconstruction. So awful for the family.

Yep, the key ring is probably not connected.

I live not far from the area. I remember people avoiding that path for some time afterwards.

 

[Jambuster]

It looks like there has been an update in the case, an arrest has been made.

Man arrested over Shona Stevens murder in 1994

Ms Stevens, 31, was savagely attacked near her home in Irvine and suffered severe head injuries.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[rvlvr]

Fantastic news, I’ve followed this case for a long time. Three men were seen around the area in which Shona was killed but were apparently never traced, I wonder if the man arrested is one of these individuals? I suppose we might find out in due course.

Sex beasts, ouija boards and the stabbing of Shona Stevens; UNSOLVED: MOTiVELESS MURDERS Mum who returned to Scotland to start a new life was beaten to death on a trip to the local shops. - Free Online Library

Free Online Library: Sex beasts, ouija boards and the stabbing of Shona Stevens; UNSOLVED: MOTiVELESS MURDERS Mum who returned to Scotland to start a new life was beaten to death on a trip to the local shops. by "Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland)"; News, opinion and commentary General interest

www.thefreelibrary.com

 

[dotr]

Man arrested over death of mother found injured in woods 30 years ago

Shona Stevens, 31, died three days after being found with serious injuries near her home in North Ayrshire in 1994.

www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk

'On Friday, Police Scotland announced a 67-year-old man has been arrested in connection with her death.'

 

[ZeroAlpha]

Brilliant news. Long overdue. The whole town is wondering who the person is. Hopefully a charge is coming soon.

 

[ZeroAlpha]

The chatter here is that the suspect is a local man that lived in the area at the time and possibly still lives there. We will find out shortly. It's going to be crazy if this is someone I know or have worked beside. There are a few people I haven't seen about recently but it may just be a coincidence, on holiday etc.

 

[Bluebear15]

He's been charged. His n̈ame will be reported when he appears in court.

BBC News - Man charged over Shona Stevens murder in 1994

Man arrested over Shona Stevens murder in 1994

Ms Stevens, 31, was savagely attacked near her home in Irvine and suffered severe head injuries.

www.bbc.com

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1949099934520594801

 

[ZeroAlpha]

The court rolls have an interesting name up for Monday. Although his name probably won't be published there at the moment. We will find out soon enough.

 

[Bluebear15]

Deleted

 

[ZeroAlpha]

Fraser Kilpatrick named

 

[dotr]

Man appears in court charged with murder of Shona Stevens in Irvine 30 years ago

Fraser Kilpatrick, 67, appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Monday.

www.dailyrecord.co.uk

''Fraser Kilpatrick, 67, appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Monday, July 28.
Kilpatrick, of Glasgow, made no plea and was remanded in custody while the case was committed for further examination. He will be expected to reappear in court within the next eight days.''

 

[ZeroAlpha]

The town and, more importantly, Shona's family have been waiting for over 30 years for this.

I wonder what his connection to the area and Shona was.

 

[RC80]

Does anyone have a British Newspaper Archive subscription? Seems to be a few articles on a Fraser Kilpatrick in Irvine from 1984-1986 for petty crime. Also a couple from 78-79 when he lived in Kilmarnock.