On what what have been Mrs Edmonds' 79th birthday (July 2, 2009), and nearly 18 months into the investigation, Detective Chief Inspector Paul Barton made the following statement:
“Today would have been Mrs Edmonds’ 79th birthday, a day that her and her family should be celebrating together. However, instead we are appealing for information to help bring her killer to justice.
“I would urge people to spare a few minutes to visit the Southern Daily Echo website, YouTube or Facebook, to view the Operation Columbian appeal video and see if there is anything they can remember that could help the investigation. Alternatively, they can watch the resconstruction on BBC Crimewatch.
“We are still actively following a number of lines of enquiry and following all new pieces of information. However, we still need to trace the items that are missing from Mrs Edmonds’ home, which are a silver credit card holder, a brightly coloured key fob with a key attached, a Lloyds cheque book and cash card, and a black Radley handbag. During the summer months there will be lots more people out and about walking in the area of Brambridge and along the river. I would urge people to be vigilant and to call the police if they think they may have found any of these missing items.
“There are still three people who we need to speak to who were inside the Tesco store on Twyford Road, Eastleigh, at around the same time the unknown man in the florescent jacket attempted to use Mrs Edmonds’ cash card. These people may have seen this man and may have information that could help us identify him. The photos of these three people can be viewed on the Operation Columbian Casebook page on Hampshire Constabulary website.
“I would urge anyone with any information to come forward and speak to us to help us find the person or people responsible. A £30,000 reward is available and I hope this money will encourage people to come forward.”
“I would like to reassure people that we will do everything we can to help them if they need support in telling us what they know. Every tiny detail must be gathered so that we can catch the person or people who carried out this horrific attack."
Can you help?
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Operation Columbian team on 0845 045 45 45 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Mini-Com users can call 01962 875000.
