UK UK - Melanie Hall, 25, Bath, Somerset, 9 June 1996

[tes1984]

It depends if the keys found in Thornbury were dropped by mistake, or were left as a deliberate red herring.

The killer had access to some bin bags and rope, but did he get them from home, or were they already in his car/van/taxi?

 

[dotr]

Re-posting to keep these items in mind..
Did the perp take Melanie's belongings as trophies, liked the colour blue, to delay identification, to sell, to wear themselves, or to give away? imo, speculation,

4 October 2019

Blue rope could hold DNA clue into 1996 murder of Melanie Hall

Eleven arrests have been made during the investigation into Ms Hall's murder, but no-one has ever been charged.

news.sky.com

"We recovered a 13-metre length of 4mm rope from the scene, made up from four separate lengths knotted together.
"In addition to the three knots joining the ropes, there were four other knots on the rope - a total of seven knots.
"It's commercially manufactured rope and commonly used on building sites and for drawing electrical cable through trunking."

''Ms Hall's pale blue silk dress, black suede shoes, cream jacket and black handbag have never been found, along with cosmetics, her cheque book and bank card.
Her jewellery including a Next watch with expanding bracelet and a pair of silver drop earrings are also missing''

 

[Eastend Eagle]

It depends if the keys found in Thornbury were dropped by mistake, or were left as a deliberate red herring.

The killer had access to some bin bags and rope, but did he get them from home, or were they already in his car/van/taxi?

Keys?

 

[tes1984]

A set of three Ford keys, issued in 1996, were found near Melanie's remains.

 

[tes1984]

How long had Melanie's boyfriend been a doctor in Bath for? 2 months or 2 years?

He moved to Bath in 1993. He first met Melanie in 1995, and they started dating in mid May 1996. He doesn't seem to have any relatives in Bath in June 1996.

 

[dotr]

2009

BBC NEWS | UK | England | Bristol | New keys clue in M5 bones inquiry

news.bbc.co.uk

'Detectives on BBC's Crimewatch revealed the set of two ignition and one red "programming" key date to the 1990s.'

A tag attached to the keys bears the code 'T144213'

 

[wtiger]

wrong area but Alun Kyte was notorious for having access to many vehicles (often unbeknown to the owners)
if this was further north i'd be looking at him - that said, he was known to be quite itinerant and could easily have had a wider offending range than is currently known

 

[tes1984]

wrong area but Alun Kyte was notorious for having access to many vehicles (often unbeknown to the owners)
if this was further north i'd be looking at him - that said, he was known to be quite itinerant and could easily have had a wider offending range than is currently known

He ticks a lot of boxes. Long distance lorry driver. Dumped bodies next to motorways. Part time mechanic who often 'borrowed' his customer's cars. Links to Weston Super Mare, which isn't far from Bath.

His DNA is well and truly on file though, and clearly doesn't match the DNA sample from the blue rope.

 

[JustJo]

In a way I'm not surprised that it took so long to find her. Driving in the UK, I always see areas at the sides of main roads that don't look like anyone ever goes there. Due to being interested in true crime, I often think that there are a lot of places someone could dump a body, and it not be found.

As for pulling over to dump the body, I probably wouldn't think twice about seeing a car at night. I'd assume they'd popped into the trees for a quick toilet break.

 

[Konstantin]

If Melanie was taken somewhere local and then taken to north of Bristol then IMO it is unlikely that the killer would have been in a panic when heading to deposit the remains but would have already thought things through.

Maybe then he simply thought this would be a good location that would not be searched quickly. I mean, he did end up being right.

He moved to Bath in 1993. He first met Melanie in 1995, and they started dating in mid May 1996. He doesn't seem to have any relatives in Bath in June 1996.

Would his DNA have been sampled to rule him out, given the profile that was found?

 

[tes1984]

Would his DNA have been sampled to rule him out, given the profile that was found?

I would be surprised if he wasn't one of the first names on the list to be swabbed.

 

[Konstantin]

I would be surprised if he wasn't one of the first names on the list to be swabbed.

You'd have thought so.

 

[tes1984]

In 2019, DCI James Riccio confirmed that DNA traces were found on a blue rope "...which was wrapped around thin black bin liners which had contained her body".

Why does he say that the bin liners had contained her body?

A "thin black bin liner" sounds like a domestic bin liner, rather than the thicker bin liners used by builders etc.

There seem to be a few contrasting reports about how Melanie's body was left at the dump site. Very confusing...

 

[tes1984]

Maybe then he simply thought this would be a good location that would not be searched quickly. I mean, he did end up being right.

Apparently Melanie was found 20 feet away from the road. Her body was also hidden in vegetation/overgrowth, so clearly wasn't noticeable to anyone who stopped to change a tyre, or answer a call of nature.

Perhaps this explains why the body took so long to find. Motorway maintenance clear visible dumped rubbish near to the road, but bin men wouldn't go rummaging around in overgrowth 20 feet away from the actual motorway.

 

[tes1984]

The Daily Telegraph (9/10/2009) mentions that police think Melanie was dumped in Thornbury "very soon after" she went missing.

 

[Cherwell]

In 2019, DCI James Riccio confirmed that DNA traces were found on a blue rope "...which was wrapped around thin black bin liners which had contained her body".
Why does he say that the bin liners had contained her body?

I imagine because there had been animal activity.

 

[Konstantin]

I imagine because there had been animal activity.

Sadly yes that would be very likely and might explain why the body was not intact?

 

[Deleted member 235284]

Is 2019 basically the last update in this case?

 

[tes1984]

Is 2019 basically the last update in this case?

The recent 'body in the bag' TV programme had quite a few new updates.

 

[Deleted member 235284]

The recent 'body in the bag' TV programme had quite a few new updates.

ahhh thank you, I will try and find it, so I can check it out.