Manchester police are hoping a new appeal will help solve the murder of 14-year-old Lisa Hession, who died less than 200 yards from her home 40 years ago.
Lisa Hession was walking home from a friend’s house on December 8, 1984, when she was sexually assaulted and strangled in an alley less than 200 yards from her home in Leigh, Manchester. Lisa’s mother, Christine, expected her daughter to be home at 10:30 p.m. Fifteen minutes later when Lisa still hadn’t arrived, she decided to report her missing. The walk Lisa was supposed to take would only take fifteen minutes. Lisa’s body was found later that evening, at 11:55 p.m.
There was never a match with the DNA found on Lisa’s body, meaning no one could be charged with the murder. “Christine never saw her daughter grow up and died without knowing who killed Lisa,” said Martin Bottomley, who is leading the case. Christine died in 2016.
Previous attacks
Police are now launching a new appeal, 40 years after the murder, asking people to come forward if they saw anything unusual or have any information. There is a reward of around 60,000 euros for anyone who can provide information that leads to the identification and conviction of the killer. “No matter how small, it could be a piece of the puzzle to help us solve this four-decade case. It could finally give the family, friends and community some closure,” the police said.
Lisa’s murder shocked the tight-knit Leigh community at the time, with many believing her attacker was from the local area. The 14-year-old was a popular pupil at Bedford High School, where a tree was later planted in her memory.
In the three months before Lisa’s murder, three young women were attacked in the Leigh area, including one the night before Lisa died. Detectives believe the attacks could be linked to Lisa’s killer. The three previous victims consistently described their attacker as someone with a local accent, aged between 18 and 20, who repeatedly threatened to kill them.
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