Melanie Hall was a loving daughter and sister with her whole life ahead of her when she disappeared from a nightclub in Bath in 1996.
She was 25-years-old and had recently graduated from the University of Bath with a degree in Psychology. She was a clerical worker at the Royal United Hospital in Bath.
On Saturday, June 8, 1996, Melanie went for a night out in Bath with her friends. She was seen sitting on a stool on the edge of the dance floor at Cadillacs nightclub at 1.10am. That was the last time she was seen alive.
After 13 agonising years never knowing for sure what had happened to Melanie, her remains were found next to a motorway slip-road in South Gloucestershire on October 5, 2009.
A post-mortem concluded that she died from severe head injuries. Her body was then wrapped in black bin bags and tied with blue rope before being left in vegetation alongside the motorway slip-road.
Melanie's remains, together with her ring, the black bin bags, blue rope, and vegetation are all currently the subjects of extensive forensic examination.
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Timeline
- Sunday, 9 June, 1996 – Melanie Hall reported missing after last being seen alive at 1.10am at Cadillacs nightclub (now Club XL) in Walcot Street, Bath.
- November 1996 – reconstruction of Melanie's last-known movements shown on BBC 1's Crimewatch programme.
- March 2003 – two men from the Bath area were arrested and questioned by police. They were released without charge.
- June 2006 – Melanie's parents make an emotional appeal for help from the public on the ten-year anniversary of her disappearance.
- Monday, October 5, 2009 – bag containing human remains found by a workman clearing overgrow vegetation next to a slip-road at junction 14 of the M5.
- Wednesday, October 7, 2009 – a post-mortem examination of the bones confirms that they are the remains of Melanie Hall.
- Wednesday, October 28, 2009 – renewed appeal on BBC1's Crimewatch.
- Friday, December 11, 2009 – funeral of Melanie Hall takes place at Bath Abbey.
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Photos of clothes similar to those worn by Melanie Hall have been released.
Do you have any information about these keys?
A statement from Steve and Pat Hall, Melanie's parents.
Senior Investigating Officer Mike Courtiour appeals for information. Footage courtesy of Sky News.
Steve Hall, Melanie's father, makes an emotional appeal for information. Footage courtesy of Sky News.
 Image of the blue rope
Do you know anyone who took or routinely used blue rope similar to that found around Melanie's remains?
People out there have been protecting someone they suspect was responsible for a missing person.
Now they are protecting someone responsible for a particularly callous murder...
It is time those people found the moral fibre to come forward and give some assistance to the police and bring this case to a close.
Steve Hall, Melanie's father
The investigation into Melanie's disappearance has never been closed.
Finding her body offers us a new and crucial opportunity for anyone who has information to come forward.
So far we have not had that breakthrough moment or that crucial call. I would repeat my appeal for the person who knows what happened
to Melanie and who can identify her killer to contact us.
Detective Superintendent Mike Courtiour, Senior Investigating Officer
Can YOU help?
Police and Melanie's family have made frequent appeals over the past 13 years for the public to help them find her killer.
The discovery of her body has provided some closure for her family, but the fact remains: no one has ever been convicted for her murder.
- Do you suspect someone you know could have killed Melanie?
- Were you out in Bath on Saturday, June 8, 1996? Did you go to Cadillacs (now Club XL)? Did you see Melanie leave the club or see who she was with in the early hours of Sunday, June 9?
- Did you see anything suspicious around the area of junction 14 of the M5, or anywhere between Bath and the M5?
- Do you know anyone who took or routinely used blue rope similar to that found around Melanie's remains?
Reward
A reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of Melanie's murderer.
Contact us
Anyone with information about Melanie's murder is asked to contact the Operation Denmark incident room on 0117 9455811,
Avon and Somerset Police on 101 or the Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111. You do not have to give Crimestoppers your name and could receive a
reward. Alternatively,
contact Crimestoppers on-line
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What happened to Melanie's clothing and belongings?
Keys found near Melanie's body
Statement from parents
Detective Superintendent Mike Courtiour
Appeal from Melanie's father
Image of the blue rope
