30-year-old cold case: New appeal to catch sex worker’s killer

Manchester Police have appealed for help in trying to catch the killer of a young woman brutally murdered 30 years ago.

The naked and mutilated body of 31-year-old prostitute Linda Donaldson was found in a field off Winwick Lane, Lowton, Wigan, Greater Manchester on 18 October 1988.

She had been repeatedly stabbed. At the time detectives said some of the injuries had been inflicted after she had died in a bid to conceal her identity and an attempt had been made to cut off her head.

They also concluded she had been killed elsewhere, before her body was dumped in the field.

Linda’s flatmate had last seen her when she left their home in Canning Street, Toxteth in Liverpool at 11.30pm on 17 October 1988.

She was also seen around the same time by a Merseyside vice squad officer who knew her.

Her flatmate reported her missing the next day and her body was found that afternoon by an elderly couple.

Launching the new appeal to help track down her killer Martin Bottomley from Greater Manchester Police’s
(GMP) cold case review unit, said: “The murder of Linda Donaldson shocked everyone who worked on it.

“She didn’t have the best start in life and through no fault of her own was forced into a lifestyle she would never have chosen for herself.

“She ended up losing her life in horrific circumstances and her killer has never been found. There are many unanswered questions but we believe there are people out there who know what happened to her.

“Maybe you lived in Merseyside or the Lowton area at the time and recall something that seemed out of place.

“Perhaps you’ve heard someone talk of the case since and thought something they said seemed odd or out of character.

“The smallest pieces of information can often lead to fresh lines of inquiry that help police crack unsolved crimes such as this.”

Just over two years after Linda Donaldson was killed the remains of another sex worker were discovered two miles from where her body was found.

Like Linda, Maria Christina Requena, 26, had been killed somewhere else before her dismembered body was dumped.

Similarities between the cases mean they have always been linked, raising fears that a serial killer was operating in the area, but no suspect has been identified.

There is a £50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Ms Donaldson’s killer.

Anyone with information can call GMP’s dedicated team on 0161 856 5978.

Alternatively, information can be left with the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111

(c) Sky News 2018: 30-year-old cold case: New appeal to catch sex worker’s killer