South Yorkshire: New appeal to trace killer of murdered school girl 50 years after her death

Anne was 13-years-old when she was sexually assaulted as she travelled home from school and was strangled with her own stockings. Her naked body was left at the foot of a manure heap near Maltby, Rotherham.

Now her older sister, Irene Hall, 68, who lives in Worcestershire, has renewed an appeal for information in a bid to catch the culprit.

Irene said: “My father always wanted to know who could do such a thing before he passed away, but he never got to know.”

“I would like to see the killer brought to justice too, but I’m not getting any younger. If I don’t then the burden will fall to my children.”

“Generations come and go, but Anne will never be forgotten.”

Anne had visited her aunt at Bramley on the evening of Wednesday, 6th May, 1964, and was due to have spent the night there.

But she decided to return home to Whiston to be with her grandmother, who would’ve been alone as her grandfather was working nights.

She set off from her aunt’s at around 9.15pm to catch the bus, but never made it home.

Her body was discovered the following day, off Carr Lane, in between the villages of Carr and Slade Hooton. A post mortem examination revealed Anne had been strangled with her own stockings.

“We are truly grateful to all of those who have already helped the police, but I appeal to those who, for their own reasons, have kept information to themselves for so long.”

“Anyone who knows anything about the death of Anne, however small or trivial they think it may be, please contact the police.”

“It is possible that the person responsible may now be dead but did they admit what they had done? Please if anyone can help us finally get justice for Anne, have the courage to make that call to the police,”

“We can only hope that one day Anne’s murderer will be identified, giving us closure on a 50-year nightmare and allowing Anne to finally be at peace.”

Detective Superintendent Richard Fewkes, of South Yorkshire Police, the officer in charge of the case, said: “The tragic murder of Anne Dunwell, albeit 50 years ago, should never be forgotten.”

“The case has been reviewed on a number of occasions in the past and new lines of enquiry identified. Sadly these did not lead to the identification of Anne’s killer.”

“South Yorkshire Police will investigate any new information that comes to light as a result of this appeal by Anne’s family.”

Anyone with information should contact South Yorkshire Police on: 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on: 0800 555111.