Breakthrough in Shelley Morgan murder investigation after 35 years

Police hope that two postcards could hold vital information about the killer of a Bristol woman 35 years ago.

Shelley Morgan, 33, was stabbed multiple times in a sexually-motivated attack after dropping her two children off at a Bristol school on 11 June 1984.

Her body was found four months later by children in Backwell Hill, near Bristol Airport.

US-born Mrs Morgan, a married art college student, had been heading towards Leigh Woods near Ashton Court when she disappeared.

She had been planning to spend the day sketching and taking photographs.

The tear-off postcards are from a calendar sold by the local Bristol Hospice charity in the 1980s or 1990s.

It is not clear where the postcards were found but police say the locations are significant, as they are linked to areas where Mrs Morgan had been going when she disappeared and where her body was later found.

One is of a scene overlooking the River Avon in Bristol, taken from Bower Ashton – just below the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

The other is of St Andrew’s Church, seen from Backwell Hill.

Police would like to hear from anyone who may have bought the calendar or who kept the tear-off postcards with those images.

Detective Sergeant Sarah Barnston said it was possible that Mrs Morgan’s work and the locations she was visiting on the day she disappeared “hold the key to her killer’s identity”.

“Although there were numerous sightings of Shelley on the day she went missing, in both the Bristol and Backwell areas, none has been confirmed.

“We remain of the belief that her killer must have had access to a vehicle and may have had links through work or other associations to Backwell and possibly the Leigh Woods or Clifton areas of Bristol.”

Mrs Morgan’s camera has never been found and nor have her tripod, sketching materials, clothing or her red-framed glasses.

The camera, a 35mm Olympus OM20 camera with serial number 1032853, is still popular with collectors and photography students, Det Sgt Barnston said.

She added: “It’s impossible to imagine the pain and anguish Shelley’s family have felt over the years and understand the impact her murder has had on her two children, who’ve been left without a mother for the majority of their lives.

“I would urge anyone with information, no matter how small, to come forward. Loyalties and relationships change over time and there may be someone who didn’t feel able to speak to us at the time, but who may be in a position to do so now.”

Mrs Morgan’s sister Holle Brian said: “As long as we carry Shelley in our hearts she will always be with us. We are getting older and the time will come when all the doors are closed.

“We beseech you if you know anything about that day back in June 1984. Please come to the police. Maybe you were afraid to speak out at the time, maybe your situation has changed.

“Out of love and respect to my sister we really want to know what happened and be sure that the person that killed her will never hurt anybody ever again.”

(c) Sky News 2019: Breakthrough in Shelley Morgan murder investigation after 35 years