New lead in Julie Pacey murder investigation in Grantham
An appeal will be made on the BBC programme Crimewatch after a “significant development” in the investigation into the death of Grantham mother-of-two Julie Pacey in 1994.
The appeal will be made on BBC1 on Tuesday, July 28, when the programme airs at 9pm.
Mrs Pacey, 38, was sexually assaulted and strangled in September, 1994. Her body was found in the bathroom of her home in Longcliffe Road by her 14-year-old daughter.
Lincolnshire Police have confirmed they approached the BBC to see if it would run the details of the murder as part of a new appeal.
A police spokeswoman said: “Lincolnshire Police and East Midlands Special Operations Unit officers have been working with Crimewatch on an item scheduled to be broadcast in the programme on July 28 in relation to the Julie Pacey murder in September 1994. This came about following a development in the investigation as a result of our continuing review of what are known as ‘cold cases’, the detail of which will be included in the transmission.
“Footage from the original Crimewatch piece, which was filmed not long after Julie’s murder, will be used in the programme, along with new footage explaining the development in the case. It is hoped that by reaching a large national audience new information may come to light that has not previously done so.”
Mrs Pacey was a relief day care worker at St Peter’s Day Nursery, in St Catherine’s Road. She was married to Andrew, who ran a long-established plumbing business in the town. On the day of her death, Mrs Pacey had been at work until 2pm before visiting her father on the Barrowby Gate estate and then leaving his home at about 2.30pm.
Police focused part of their investigation on a BMW Mrs Pacey was seen driving a week before her death. The same car was seen at 3pm on the day she died, being driven along Longcliffe Road and then parked next to her Audi in the driveway. The force has stressed that the case has never been closed and has been periodically reviewed over the past 20 years. Mrs Pacey’s death was preceded by another unsolved murder in Grantham just a few months before. In July 1994, barmaid Sharon Harper, 21, was found strangled on wasteland near Earlesfield Lane.
At the time, police said there was no connection between the two murders, but a week later the Journal quoted Det Supt Stuart Clifton, who headed the investigation into Ms Harper’s death, as saying: “We are keeping a very open mind, but you have to look at the possiblity they are linked.”
He said in a television interview there could be a stalker on the loose in the town and any women who had been followed should contact the police.
Lincolnshire Police has declined to give further details of the new development following a request from the Journal. We have been told that details will be available after the programme is aired. It is understood the BBC requested exclusivity on the details.