Okay readers, so here we have an interesting and in some ways a still-active case, being kept alive by Patricia Grainger's son, Daniel.
Let's have a delve into this one and see just how much we can learn. . .
Despite this case being some 23 years old, there is still a great deal of activity it, which is very encouraging, as we know so many cases like this have been allowed to go cold and almost forgotten.
Patricia Grainger was seriously sexually assaulted, strangled, stabbed multiple times and her breasts and genital area were badly mutilated. These dreadful injuries that resulted in her death were inflicted just a few minutes from her home, her body was then dumped in a local woodland brook. The young mother was found face down and forcibly submerged under the base of a divan bed, but to date, the dangerous killer responsible has never been identified.
Daniel Grainger was just a small child, aged 5 when his mum's life was so tragically ended but he is still campaigning hard to get justice for her and the family, He has been very critical of South Yorkshire Police in regard to their investigation of his mother's murder. I can fully appreciate his anger and disappointment as the police say that although the matter is "subject to review" they no longer have some of the original evidence in the case. In response to this allegation, South Yorkshire Police said that they had submitted items of clothing that Mrs Grainger had been wearing at the time of her murder to the Forensic Science Service for examination, hence the police were no longer in possession of the items.
The BBC asked South Yorkshire Police about the missing evidence and asked if they had followed correct procedure in sending the clothing to the FSS but other than confirming that a complaint from Daniel Grainger was being looked into, the force did not provide a comment. Sadly the Forensic Science Service closed down in March 2012 so there is no chance of the evidence being recovered.
One of the worrying things in my research into this case that I find really disturbing is that apparently there was no sign of any defence wounds on Patricia's body, so either she was made unconscious somehow very early into the attack or taken by surprise, maybe attacked from behind with great physical force, The only other possibility is that Patricia was somehow made to fear her attackers so much that she simply did not fight back, but I have to say that seems unlikely as the human instinct is fight or flight.
Unfortunately, South Yorkshire police still refuse to give Daniel Grainger a copy of his mother's autopsy report, they apparently claim that it is to "protect the public from distress" I have to say that my opinion is the same as Daniel Grainger in that the police won't give up the report for fear he may post it on his website and let the truth out.
There were sightings of Patricia up to just a few hours prior to her body being found and although she had been missing from home during the final few days of her life and her family did not know where she was staying during that period. I cannot help but wonder if she knew her killer, had she been staying with him/her? Her body was found by local youths playing by the brook, known locally as 'Tongue Gutter', I can only imagine the shock and trauma that those kids must have experienced in finding a woman so badly mutilated, that is something which will live with them forever. I feel that maybe more than one person was responsible for such a vicious attack, but the ultimate question is why?
Here is a little timeline of things to assist with understanding the story:
Patricia had not stayed at her home address in Buchanan Road, Parsons Cross since Monday, August 4th 1997, but her parents said that she often visited friends and stayed over, so it wasn't until after in the week that she was reported missing.
Tuesday 5th August 1997 saw a possible sighting of Patricia close to the place where her body was found, but this is unconfirmed
Thursday 7th August 1997 Patricia was confirmed as seen at Northern General Hospital, but the reason for her being there remains unclear
Saturday 9th August 1997 A possible sighting of Patricia at 7.45am when she was seen talking to a man at the junction of Holgate Crescent and Holgate Road, again that sighting was never confirmed.
A very important piece of evidence is that a very scruffy male was seen in the early hours of Sunday, August 10th 1997 in the Collinson / Adrian Crescent area very close to Patricia Grainger's home address and indeed quite close to where she was found dead. The scruffy man is reported to have intimidated a woman who was passing through the area, he stared directly at the woman who feared for her safety and moved away quickly, The man was described as white, about 30 years old, 5ft 6 inches tall with dark greasy or gelled back hair.
According to the post-mortem report, in this case, Patricia had been strangled, stabbed four times in the neck as well as being sexually assaulted, the actual cause of death was recorded as "inconclusive" because it was also noted that water from the brook was found in her lungs, which suggested that an attempt had also been made to drown her or she had at least been alive when her body entered the water. The report went on to state that Patricia had been badly beaten.
It seems that Patricia Grainger, who had learning difficulties, the mental capacity of a 12-year-old girl, was partially deaf and was thought to suffer from ADHD was far too trusting and according to local people she would trust anyone that showed an interest in her. Clearly, someone abused that trust and destroyed a young innocent woman's life. Someone in the community where Patricia lived with her young son must be carrying around a really heavy burden of a secret through all these years.
Has the person or persons that killed this young woman gone on to kill again? Had there been other murders that the same people were responsible for prior to the killing? I mean in my experience it is quite rare that a killer will only strike once in a lifetime unless of course there is a reason to just kill that one person i.e. in anger or deliberate targeting in some kind of 'payback'. As there appears to be no real reason to murder such a nice lady, it hardly seems like a 'gangland killing' or something of that sort.
In an article originally printed by 'The Star', (a local Sheffield newspaper), David Stopford, head of South Yorkshire's major incident review team said: "Mrs Grainger's murder remains incredibly distressing for those who knew and loved her. Throughout our investigation into her death, specific details about the nature of Mrs Grainger's injuries have not been disclosed for a number of reasons".
Detective Stopford goes on to say: "We did not feel it appropriate to place potentially harrowing, upsetting information into the public domain, where it could cause additional pain to Mrs Grainger's loved ones". He said "In addition, the release of sensitive information could compromise the ongoing investigation"
I personally do not see how releasing details of injuries in a murder case will do much harm to an investigation, except for time wasters who may come forward purporting to be the killer because they had knowledge of the injuries but any good murder investigator knows that there would be more detail about the victim known by police that would not be known to anyone that was not there and ultimately responsible for the murder. Therefore, it is my submission that the reasoning for withholding such information was if anything counter-productive.
On Monday, August 10th 2020 ITV announced that there is a renewed appeal to find Patricia Grainger's killer some 23 years after the horrific murder took place and a £10,000 reward has been offered to help solve the murder.
Within the report by ITV, Patricia's son Daniel made an impassioned plea: "No-one can ever imagine the pain and suffering our family have had to suffer as a result of my mum's brutal murder. Whilst many years have passed, the memory of what happened to my vulnerable mum hasn't gone. She was treated as if she wasn't human and brutalised in the most sickening way. She trusted anyone that showed her interest and they abused that trust".
Daniel went on to say: Someone in the community must know what happened to Pat and has sat on the secret for decades. We are appealing to your better nature. With our reward through Crimestoppers still available for three more months, there is still time for you to do the right thing, to tell the truth, and help us get answers".
In the same ITV appeal, South Yorkshire police gave a statement which reads:
"On the 23rd anniversary of the death of Patricia Grainger, we continue to appeal for information which could lead to us bringing those involved in her death to justice. The investigation into Mrs Grainger's death remains under "continual review" by the force's Major Incident Review Team who look at any new leads or lines of enquiry".
Despite this renewed appeal and the regularly updated "Who killed my mum" website set up by Daniel Grainger in 2008 and now the renewed appeal with an offer of a £10,000 reward, there is still no information coming forward and that is very sad indeed.
It is worth noting that there have been people questioned and even charged with Patricia Grainger's murder but no one has ever been convicted. . .
In August 1997 three people were held by police in connection with Patricia's murder but they were later released without charge. Apparently, they had been held because they had given conflicting statements as to where she had stayed during her last week of life.
In September 1997 a 45-year-old man was arrested and charged with the murder of Patricia Grainger, he was later released. After he was charged the man's house came under attack by residents of the local council estate where he lived, threw stones threw his windows. The married man took his wife and children to another estate and left his home boarded up, it was consequently set in fire, The case against the 45-year-old collapsed.
In 2008 two ore people were arrested in connection with the murder and placed on bail, the case against them was closed in April 2009, no charges were ever brought against them.
So we are back to the question "Who killed Patricia Grainger"? Someone somewhere must know what happened, obviously, someone out there has Patricia's blood on his or her hands and her son Daniel is desperate to put the case to rest with closure as to what happened to his mum and who is responsible for it.
Do you know something? Maybe you remember someone suddenly acting differently? Did someone you know suddenly have a big impromptu bonfire in August 1997? Did someone you know suddenly over away from your area in Sheffield? Did someone arrive in your area in a rush in August 1997?
There is a young man out there, desperate for answers, there is a reward available for information leading to the conviction of Patricia Grainger's Killer. Maybe you have held the terrible secret all these years? If you have any information then, please call Crimestoppers right now 0800 555 111 and do the right thing
Don't forget if you have any unsolved/cold UK rue crime cases that you'd like reviewed, like me to blog on or you need research undertaken for a documentary, film, book or even a podcast do please get in touch.
You can email me: jaradcoldcases@protonmail.com
Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/adams_jarad
Connect with me on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarad-adams-8360751b4/
