The grieving family of a teenage mum whose brutal murder remains unsolved after 13 years have made a fresh plea for help to find her killer.
Rebecca Hall, 19, the mother of a four-month-old son, disappeared on Good Friday, April 13, 2001. She was last seen leaving her home at Lydford House, off Elizabeth Street, Little Horton, at 10pm.
Her naked and battered body was found in an alleyway off Thornton Street, in Bradford’s red light district, 13 days later. She had been subjected to a vicious and brutal beating and had died from severe head injuries.
Rebecca, who was known as Becky, was a sex worker and detectives believed she had been heading for her “beat” on Thornton Road when she was snatched from the street.
The grim discovery of her body was made by a passer-by, at a place regularly used by prostitutes and their clients. Her clothes were found nearby.
Becky’s son Jordan is now 13 years old and is still being cared for by his grandmother.
Detectives have said that advances in forensic technology could provide vital clues to the identity of the killer.
And they have urged members of the Bradford public to cast their minds back to 2001 in case they remember hearing or seeing anything, however trivial, that might help.
Detective Superintendent Mark Ridley, who is leading the investigation, said: “We are now approaching 13 years since Becky was murdered.
“But the investigation continues and the hunt for her killer goes on.
“Becky’s family are still deeply upset by her death and, like the officers investigating this horrific case, are determined to see the person who did this brought to justice.
“Someone in the community is likely to know who was responsible for her death, and I would urge that person to come forward and contact the police.
“There is a chance that allegiances might have changed in the years which have passed, and that the person who holds the vital information could now be in a position to speak to us and tell us everything they know.”
Angela Hall, Becky’s mum, said: “There isn’t a day goes by when we don’t think of Becky and how different life would be now for Jordan and our family, had she not been taken from us in such cruel circumstances.
“I ask that anyone who knows who was responsible for Becky’s murder comes forward to help us as a family and tells the police what they know.”
Following Becky’s murder, police distributed 250 posters, with a photograph of the teenager to display in police stations, shop windows, bus shelters and community halls in Bradford.
Her limited edition watch, which could have held the key to the inquiry, was never found.
Hundreds of DNA profiles have been examined over the years and a number of potential suspects eliminated from the inquiry.
Her case was one of a number of unsolved murders detectives had wanted to question ‘Crossbow Cannibal’ Stephen Griffiths about, but they say there is no evidence to link him to her murder.
Anyone with information about her murder is urged to contact the Protective Services (Crime) Department on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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