Betty Yates murder: Appeal for mystery letter writers to come forward

Jan 20 2012

THE detective leading the investigation into the murder of Betty Yates has appealed for the anonymous authors of two mysterious letters to come forward.

Det Chief Insp Neil Jamieson said the typed letters had "differing" information about the death of the 77-year-old retired Birmingham teacher, at her remote riverside cottage in Bewdley.

He said one of the letters was delivered through the post to Bewdley Police Station, while the other was hand-delivered through a third party at West Mercia Police's major investigation unit.

DCI Jamieson said: "I don't believe they had been written by the same person, so I am keen for both individuals to come forward."

He added the letters were likely to have come from a "third party" rather than Mrs Yates's killer.

What is contained in the letters was still being worked on, so their contents could not be revealed.

DCI Jamieson said police were yet to rule out that Mrs Yates knew her killer.

It was also too early to say whether one person or more attacked Mrs Yates on January 2, the date police believe she was killed.

The detective said: "This was a vicious and cruel attack ona pensioner who was living alone and unable to defend herself.

"Although such crimes are fortunately extremely rare, it has obviously shocked the local community and everyone involved."

There was no sign of a break-in, added DCI Jamieson.

He said: "The blinds were drawn. The person responsible, I believe, has locked those premises.

"It was clearly an attempt to get away from the scene and make good their escape."

Police also want to speak to a white man in his 20s seen walking alone near the scene, on January 2, between 8.20pm and