The father and sister of a woman murdered in one of Merseyside's most notorious unsolved cases died before learning who was responsible. Julie Finley was 23 when she disappeared from Liverpool city centre on August 5, 1994. Her naked and strangled body was discovered the following day in a field close to the Wheatsheaf Hotel near the Rainford Bypass.
New Appeal 32 Years On
Over the past 32 years, Merseyside Police has conducted extensive enquiries, speaking to dozens of witnesses and reviewing hundreds of hours of CCTV footage. Detective Inspector Samantha Davies issued a new appeal for information on Wednesday.
Detective Inspector Davies said: "It is unfathomable that 32 years after her death Julie's killer remains at large. It is heartbreaking that Julie's sister and dad have both died during that time and never got the answers they so keenly sought."
Events Leading to Disappearance
On the day of her disappearance, Julie visited her parents' home in Dovecot, spending time with her mum and sister. She then returned to her flat off Falkner Square in the Georgian Quarter, where she spent time with her boyfriend and another friend. She left the flat around 10pm and headed into the city centre, seeing a friend about half an hour later on Grove Street before mentioning she was meeting someone else at 11pm.
Detective Inspector Davies said there was a suspected sighting of Julie on Crown Street after a woman matching her description ran across the road in front of a witness's car towards a man who has never been identified. He is described as between 20 and 30 years old, smartly dressed, between 5ft 10in and 6ft in height, with dark hair. The last confirmed sighting was at 11.45pm outside the former Stag's Head pub on Pembroke Place.
Key Clues and Reward
The investigating officer said: "Her body was found the following morning some distance away in Rainford so we know she must have been taken there in a vehicle." A white Transit van parked in a layby off the Rainford bypass may hold the most significant clue. Detective Inspector Davies said: "We have not been able to identify the van or who was driving."
Independent charity Crimestoppers announced a £20,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the person responsible. Pamela Tompsett, north west regional manager, said: "More than three decades on, Julie's family are still waiting for answers." Crimestoppers also seeks information about a woman known only as "Tina" who may have spoken with Julie in Dovecot on the day she disappeared.
Julie's mother, Patricia "Pat" Finley, said: "Julie was only 23 when she was murdered. She was my second oldest child and growing up she was the perfect daughter." Anyone with information should contact Merseyside Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
