As the 40th anniversary of Lisa Hession’s devastating murder approaches, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) continue their unwavering commitment to solving this heartbreaking cold case and bringing her killer to justice.
On December 8, 1984, 14-year-old Lisa Hession’s life was brutally cut short when she was sexually assaulted and fatally strangled in an alleyway just 200 yards from her home on Bonnywell Road in Leigh. The young gymnast and cross-country runner was walking home from a party when she was attacked.
Lisa’s mother, Christine, reported her missing at 10:45 pm that night after she failed to return home by her expected time of 10:30 pm. Tragically, her body was discovered by a member of the public just before midnight behind Rugby Road.
Despite extensive investigations and advances in forensic techniques, the case remains unsolved. The police have obtained a DNA sample but have yet to find a match that could lead to the identification and conviction of Lisa’s killer. Heartbreakingly, Christine passed away in 2016 without ever knowing who murdered her daughter.
Head of GMP’s Cold Case Unit, Martin Bottomley, expressed the department’s continued dedication to the case: “Lisa had her whole life ahead of her, and somebody took that away from her. Her mother never got to see her daughter grow up, and she died never knowing who killed Lisa.”
The police are once again appealing to the public for help. They emphasize that no piece of information is too small, and even the most seemingly insignificant detail could be crucial in solving this four-decade-long mystery.
A substantial £50,000 reward remains available for information leading to the identification and conviction of Lisa’s killer. Anyone with potential information is urged to contact the GMP Cold Case Unit at 0161 856 5978 or provide anonymous tips to Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.
As the community continues to mourn Lisa’s loss, the hope for justice remains steadfast. Her memory lives on, and the commitment to uncovering the truth behind her murder continues unabated.
