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Tracey Mertens: Appeal over Cheshire petrol murder 20 years on | Tracey Mertens: Appeal over Cheshire petrol murder 20 years on |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Police in Cheshire have renewed their appeal for help in finding two men who doused a woman in petrol and set her alight 20 years ago. | Police in Cheshire have renewed their appeal for help in finding two men who doused a woman in petrol and set her alight 20 years ago. |
Tracey Mertens, 31, from Rochdale, met a "violent and horrific death" at Christ Church in Eaton near Congleton on 23 December 1994, said police. | |
She sustained 95% burns to her body and died 12 hours later. | She sustained 95% burns to her body and died 12 hours later. |
A £30,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of those responsible still stands, police said. | A £30,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of those responsible still stands, police said. |
Abducted | Abducted |
The mother-of-two, who was living in Rochdale, had travelled to Birmingham on 22 December to collect personal belongings from her former home in Cattells Grove, Nechells. | The mother-of-two, who was living in Rochdale, had travelled to Birmingham on 22 December to collect personal belongings from her former home in Cattells Grove, Nechells. |
Police believe she intended to return the same day but instead ended up staying overnight at her sister-in-law′s and visited her former home the next morning. | Police believe she intended to return the same day but instead ended up staying overnight at her sister-in-law′s and visited her former home the next morning. |
Shortly before midday the following day, she answered the door and was confronted by two men, described as black, who spoke with Jamaican accents, police said. | Shortly before midday the following day, she answered the door and was confronted by two men, described as black, who spoke with Jamaican accents, police said. |
Police believe she was abducted and bundled into the back of a yellow Ford Escort parked outside before being driven to Eaton churchyard. | Police believe she was abducted and bundled into the back of a yellow Ford Escort parked outside before being driven to Eaton churchyard. |
A member of the public came to her aid after she was attacked. | A member of the public came to her aid after she was attacked. |
She was taken to hospital and was able to tell detectives what had happened to her. | She was taken to hospital and was able to tell detectives what had happened to her. |
Renewing an appeal for witnesses to get in touch, Det Insp Gary McIntyre said: "Tracey met a violent and horrific death at the hands of her killers. | Renewing an appeal for witnesses to get in touch, Det Insp Gary McIntyre said: "Tracey met a violent and horrific death at the hands of her killers. |
"She was so brave and told detectives as much as she could before she died. | "She was so brave and told detectives as much as she could before she died. |
"That information was vital for the investigation team at the time and numerous lines of enquiry were pursued. | "That information was vital for the investigation team at the time and numerous lines of enquiry were pursued. |
"I do believe that there are still other people out there who may have witnessed what happened and I would appeal to them to come forward." | "I do believe that there are still other people out there who may have witnessed what happened and I would appeal to them to come forward." |
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