Janet Murgatroyd: Details on the £20,000 Crimestoppers reward for murder information
How to get in touch with Crimestoppers if you have information on the 1996 murder of Janet Murgatroyd.
Crimestoppers is appealing for information on the 30th anniversary of the murder of Janet Murgatroyd, renewing a call for the public’s help to bring those responsible to justice.
Janet Murgatroyd, aged 20, was killed in the early hours of Sunday, June 16, 1996 after a night out in Preston town centre. Thirty years on, the independent charity is offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information given directly to Crimestoppers that leads to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
Janet, from Penwortham, had been out with a friend on the evening of Saturday 15 June 1996, a day marked by the Manchester Arndale bombing and the England v Scotland Euro 96 match.
The pair were at the Adelphi pub before becoming separated. Janet left the pub with a known man who she walked down Fishergate with before they parted company in the Church Street area. CCTV later captured Janet walking alone along Fishergate, heading towards her home in Penwortham.
It is known that Janet paused near Preston Railway Station, where her purse was stolen. She then continued down Fishergate Hill towards Penwortham Bridge.
At some point after reaching the bridge, Janet was subjected to a violent attack on Holme Road near to the entrance of Priory Park, on the south side of the River Ribble. She sustained fatal head injuries and was later found in the river by members of the public on the morning of Sunday 16 June.
Despite the passage of time, Crimestoppers believes someone may still hold vital information about what happened that night.
Mick Duthie, Director of Operations from the charity Crimestoppers, said: “Thirty years on, Janet’s family and loved ones continue to live with the pain of not knowing who was responsible for her death. Time passing does not diminish the importance of information, and loyalties and circumstances can change. What may have felt difficult to share in 1996 could feel very different today.
“Crimestoppers is independent and guarantees anonymity. We do not ask for your name, and we cannot trace your call or online report. If you know something about what happened to Janet that night, however small it may seem, please come forward. Your information could make a real difference in finally providing answers and justice.”
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The reward
Crimestoppers, which is independent of the police, is supporting this investigation by offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information the charity exclusively receives – either online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling 0800 555 111 at any time – that leads to the arrest of those responsible for the murder of Janet Murgatroyd. The reward is available for three months and is due to expire on September 15, 2026.
Crimestoppers is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They cannot trace your call or track your IP address. This means no police, no courts, no witness statements. You may think your information is insignificant, however it could make all the difference. You will stay 100 per cent anonymous. Always.
The reward will only be payable for information passed directly to Crimestoppers, not to the police. Callers must request a reward code when calling 800 555 111. If submitting information via the anonymous online form, the 'Keep in Contact’ portal must be used, and a reward code requested at the initial time of submission.