A £20,000 reward is being offered for information relating to the murder of nightclubber Melanie Hall, as police launch a fresh probe of the cold case 30 years on.
Melanie, a 25-year-old clerical worker, was last seen sitting on a stool at the edge of the dancefloor at Cadillacs nightclub in Bath, on June 9, 1996, at about 1.10am. It was the same night England played Switzerland in the opening match of Euro 96.
Her remains were not found until 13 years later on October 5, 2009, when a workman discovered them 28 miles north from the city, next to a slip road leading onto the northbound carriageway of the M5 at junction 14 near Thornbury, Gloucestershire.
She had suffered a fractured skull, and reportedly had a broken jaw and cheek bone, indicating she had been subjected to a vicious assault. Her body was naked and had been tightly bound in bin bags, secured by thick blue nylon rope.
Three decades on, Melanie’s killer remains on the loose.
The detective leading the investigation is set to appear on BBC One’s Crimewatch Live as the 30th anniversary of her disappearance approaches.
Detective Chief Inspector Ben Lavender of Avon and Somerset Police is appealing for information relating to Melanie’s last sighting.
Crimestoppers has also announced a reward of £20,000 for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the murder.
A £20,000 reward is being offered for information relating to the murder of nightclubber Melanie Hall, as police launch a fresh probe of the cold case 30 years on
Melanie’s remains were found 13 years after her disappearance – and her killer remains on the loose. Pictured: Items similar to those worn by Melanie which have never been found
DCI Lavender said: ‘The murder of Melanie Hall is one of the longest running and highest profile investigations ever carried out by Avon and Somerset Police, with hundreds of officers working on the case over the years.
‘Melanie’s family has endured unimaginable pain and uncertainty for almost three decades and have shown extraordinary strength and resilience throughout this time.
‘Everything we do is driven by the need to provide them with the justice and answers they so desperately need.
‘As we approach this significant anniversary, I want people to think back to the weekend of Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9 in 1996.
‘England were playing Switzerland in the opening game of the Euros, and the centre of Bath was exceptionally busy.
‘Melanie had spent an evening with her boyfriend and friends and went to the former Cadillacs nightclub.
‘The last confirmed sighting of her was at 1.10am on Sunday, June 9, when her friends left the club.
‘She was sat by the side of the dancefloor on her own.
‘Did you go to Cadillacs nightclub?
‘Did you see Melanie that night?
‘Has anyone spoken to you about that night and raised any concerns or suspicions?
‘Does anyone you know act differently when they see or hear an appeal for information relating to this case?
‘We believe there’s a strong possibility Melanie left the nightclub with her killer, as a coat she’d checked into a cloakroom was collected, but she could have met them outside or got into a car.
‘If you have information or suspicions about anyone who could be connected to Melanie’s disappearance, now is the time to let us know.
‘Please let us decide if information is relevant to the investigation or not.’
DCI Lavender said the discovery of Melanie’s remains by the side of the M5 was a pivotal moment but only provided some of the answers.
He said: ‘The location where Melanie’s remains were found remains a key focus for us.
‘We’re keeping an open mind as to when Melanie’s body was dumped at this location.
‘This could have been in the hours after she went missing, or the days following this.
‘Did you see a car parked on the slip road, near to where it joins the M5 in the early hours of Sunday 9 June, or in the days or weeks after this?
‘Do you know anyone from Bath who has connections with this route?
‘Melanie’s remains were found without her clothing or items she had with her on the night she went missing.
‘She was wearing a pale blue silk dress with a round neck, black suede mule shoes with straps across the front and an open toe, size 5 or 6, a cream single-breasted, long-sleeved jacket and a black satchel-type handbag.
‘In Melanie’s handbag were cosmetics and a Midland cheque book and bank card.
‘Also missing are items of jewellery including a Next watch with expanding bracelet and silver drop earrings.
‘Have you seen any of these items, or do you know where they may be?’
Since taking over the investigation in 2025, DCI Lavender has instigated a root and branch review.
This includes digitalising all files and exhibits onto our major incident database, reviewing almost 100 hours of CCTV, revisiting key witnesses to check whether the information they provided remains the same, as well as capitalising on any forensic advancements or opportunities to use AI in the future.
Previous efforts to discover the identity of Melanie’s killer have involved more than 400 officers over the years, with eleven people arrested but no one has ever been charged.
Melanie’s father Steve Hall previously released a powerful and moving statement detailing the impact the murder has had on their lives.
In remarks released by the police, he said: ‘When Melanie was murdered, it wasn’t just one person’s life that was taken, it changed and ruined many lives after.
‘Mine, my wife’s, my daughter’s, my mother’s – there’s obviously someone out there, and probably some people out there, who know what happened to Melanie.
Police closed off the road after Melanie’s body was discovered at the side of the M5 in 2009
‘If they felt they could come forward with information which led to us finding out what happened to Melanie, then at least we could feel that we’ve done all we can do for our child.
‘We’re different people now. That night when she disappeared, we changed – we are not the people we were before.
‘We carry a deep sorrow, a deep grief. We’ve lost something very beautiful and very precious to us that we can’t replace…it’s a family with a piece missing.’
Anyone with information can contact Avon and Somerset Constabulary on 101, using reference Operation Denmark, through the dedicated Major Incident Public Portal, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
