100 new lines of enquiry in Elsie Frost historic murder case

Calendar
Wakefield
West Yorkshire
Thursday 7 January 2016 at 4:50pm

Police investigating the historic murder of Wakefield teenager Elsie Frost are progressing 100 new lines of enquiry following a highly encouraging response from residents.

Elsie was stabbed to death in Wakefield in 1965 and last October a new appeal [**was launched by police.**](http://Teenager Elsie Frost was stabbed to death in Wakefield in 1965 and last week a new appeal was launched by police. David Hirst reports.)

The Homicide and Major Enquiry Team have thanked residents for their support after receiving 40 calls since the launch of a major reinvestigation into the death of the 14-year-old on October 9,1965.

One new report of a sighting of someone of interest was of a man described as in his early 20's, slim to medium build, with dark hair and wearing a duffel coat.

The Homicide and Major Enquiry Team have issued a picture of a police officer wearing the type of duffel coat believed to have been worn by a man seen near scene of Elsie’s murder and in the surrounding area on the afternoon of the offence.

One report of a sighting of someone of interest was of a man described as in his early 20's, slim to medium build, with dark hair and wearing a duffel coat. Credit: West Yorkshire Police

According to a new witness, the man was seen near the scene of the murder at the ABC railway steps at around the time Elsie's body was found at about 4.15pm.

The new suspect description has come from information given to police following a major re-appeal of the historic case in October last year.

Elsie (14) was attacked on the afternoon of October 9th 1965 as she made her way home on a towpath next to the Calder and Hebble Canal in Wakefield.

It is thought she had been watching friends sail on what is now Horbury Lagoon and decided to leave at around 3.50pm, making a different way home to those she was with.

While entering a railway tunnel just off the canal towpath (which now leads onto Monckton Road) she was attacked from behind and stabbed in the back and twice in the head.

The Towpath near to where Elsie was murdered

A knife blow also pierced a hand which officers believe she had put up behind her head to defend herself.

Her body was later found at the bottom of the 'ABC' railway service steps by a dog walker, with a post mortem confirming she had suffered stab wounds to her head and body and died of shock and blood loss.

We received a highly encouraging response to our new appeal last October and have since been progressing lines of enquiry to try and find Elsie’s killer. Clearly, it is significant that after such a long passage of time we have managed to generate 100 new lines of enquiry and I want to thank residents for their assistance so far. I also want to thank a number of former police officers who have come forwards to offer information. A common description of a person of interest which has come from some of the calls has been of a man wearing a brown, potentially duffel, type coat with dark hair who was seen on the canal towpath. He was of medium to thin build and in his early 20's. He was described as carrying a bag by some witnesses, and was possibly of what was described as a scruffy or 'student type' appearance. Witnesses describe seeing potential suspects in the area of the canal at around the time of the murder and then in the Denby Dale road area after 4.45pm, and then into the evening. Did you know anyone fitting this description who may have lived or been in the area at the time? Anyone who has information about this man or may have known him at the time is asked to contact us.

MORE: Memorial service planned for Wakefield schoolgirl Elsie Frost