"The case has never been closed" - top detective on renewed appeal over Janet Murgatroyd's murder
The top detective behind a refreshed appeal over the death of student Janet Murgatroyd has spoken to Post reporter Catherine Musgrove.
The officer leading a renewed appeal over the death of Janet Murgatroyd 30 years ago has reassured the people of Preston that the case ‘has never been closed’.
Detective Chief Inspector Bryony Midgely of the Force Major Investigation Team said that the case was one of around 40 unsolved major crimes dating back to 1920, which her team review ‘on a rolling basis’ with the benefit of new techniques and techologies, including DNA profiling.
Appealing to readers and focusing on the fact that allegiances and loyalties change over time, DCI Midgely said: “I imagine a lot of your readers will remember this case well and if you remember anything at all, if something in your family has told you something, please tell us.”
Evidence
The Post has previously reported how some evidence in the case had been lost when a forensic laboratory was petrol bombed in an unrelated attack - including Janet’s blood-stained blouse found on the river bank by LEP photographer Darren Andrews.
When asked how much evidence there still was to examine, DCI Midgely said there is still a “significant amount” of forensic evidence related to Janet’s murder, which is held securely and can be tested when necessary.
She said that there a no new suspects in the case at this time, but that she “wouldn’t completely dismiss anyone”, although some people interviewed as part of the investigations over the 30 years “are no longer with us”.
She added that Andrew Greenwood, who had a manslaughter conviction for the murder overturned in 2004 was not part of the current investigation, and that Brendan Connell, who kissed Janet on the evening before she died, “is still helping police”, being treated as a witness, not a suspect.
Asked if any of the key witnesses from 1996 had been reinterviewed, she said: “At the moment we’re in the process of reviewing all the information before any further interviews take place.”
Previous appeals on the case have not lead to a breakthrough on this case, and when asked about people’s confidence in police work, DCI Midgely said: “We have a great Force Major Investigation Team and the people of Preston can have confidence that we are doing everything we can with this case.”
She hopes that the significant events of the IRA bomb in Manchester and Gazza’s iconic goal in the Euro 96 game against Scotland would help people remember where they were on Janet’s last day, and with the World Cup currently on, said it was a good time to remember that “violence against women and girls is not tolerated.”
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How to get in touch with information
If you have information which you think could help investigators, contact Lancashire Police using the Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) here: Public Portal . Or you can call 101, quoting log 0260 of 15th June 2026.
Independent charity Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of who is responsible for Janet’s murder. They worked independently of police and can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.