Five unsolved murders from Greater Manchester

While some criminals are brought to justice, other crimes go unsolved for years some might not ever reach a conclusion.

From teenagers who were tragically strangled to death, to the mysterious murder of 'Brandy Dan', here are five unsolved murder case that took place in Bolton and the surrounding areas in Greater Manchester:

Minnie Stott

Back in 1940, 17-year-old Minnie Stott left her home in Clarence Street to the words of her mother asking her not to stay out too late.

However, the teenager never returned home.

She was strangled with her own green scarf in a deserted garage yard off Bradshawgate.

That wasn’t the only item of clothing to go missing either- her blue camiknickers were also taken.

Since the murder, police have had very few leads relating to the murder.

Two months after her death, police were told that Minnie and the another girl got into a car in Bradshawgate with two men- but they were unable to trace any of the people involved.

Due to the historic nature of the crime, it’s likely that Minnie’s murderer is now deceased.

Angela Heys

In 1996, police were worried that a serial killer was on the prowl after the body of Bolton woman, Angela Heys, was strangled and sexually assaulted near Egerton.

Police discovered that a black bandage was used to strangle her.

At the time, police in the North of England were investigating a string of similar murders; a dozen young women were strangled, sexually assaulted and left on the side of the motorway.

Lisa Hession

In 1984, 14-year-old Lisa Hession was sexually assaulted and strangled to death near her Leigh home at around 10:30pm.

The teen was walking alone after attending a house party- but she would never make it home.

Lisa Hession was murdered at the age of 14

In 2014 Lisa’s mother, Christine, said she lived in hope that her daughter’s killer would be found even after all of these years.

Sadly, Christine would never know if the killer get brought to justice as she passed away from cancer in 2016.

While the case has gone cold, the police do have DNA evidence which they believe belongs to the killer- but they don’t have a name to attach to the DNA.

Danny McFadden

The despicable murder of Danny McFadden took place in 1998.

He was known by Bolton pub-goers as “Brandy Dan” and the pensioner was known as a “brilliant man” who “would not hurt a fly.

In June 1998 he was beaten around the head with a blunt instrument at his Halliwell home.

Autopsy reports suggested that he was still alive when attackers piled clothes and furniture on top of him before setting the flat on fire.

Police theorised that Danny was followed home by his killer or killers.

At the time, Danny’s neighbour said: “I can't take all this in. I just keep thinking over and over again about what happened on the other side of my wall. It's a nightmare.”

Despite multiple lines of enquiry and thousands of people being interviewed, Danny’s killer has never been caught.

Sarah Melia

34-year-old Sarah Melia was murdered in her Horwich home back in 2008.

She had been stabbed six times in the back and four times in the chest.

Her teenage daughter, Meghan, found her bleeding at the bottom of the stairs with a punctured lung, diaphragm and liver.

Flowers outside the home of murdered woman Sarah Melia (Photo by Gus Sivyer, Newsquest (Bolton)

Her brother, Mark Kitchen, was initially charged with her murder following police enquiries.

However, he was acquitted by a jury and no other suspects have been charged since.

Her mother, Marion Kitchen, is still hopeful that someone can shed some light on the crime.

She told The Bolton News: “At the end of the day somebody knows what happened,” she said.

“Probably a number of people have seen something or heard the shouting. In a way this is like a jigsaw and there’s only one piece missing. We will never get Sarah back but we want some closure.

“Maybe we won’t ever be able to move on ever if we get closure but it will help.

“I want to say that this isn’t over. Somebody knows something.”

Do you think you have any information that could lead to the arrest of these victims’ killers? Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.