A killer who left their victim inside a bathtub has evaded detectives for 35 years.
The body of Nigel Bostock was found in the bathroom of his semi-detached bungalow in Southport on December 20, 1986.
His body was discovered half in and half out of his bath, which was partially filled with water.
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A complex ligature, tied by the hands of his killer, was found around his neck.
Detectives questioned thousands of people in relation to the case but the identity of the bathtub killer remains unknown.
Mr Bostock, 31, lived alone in his house in Banks and worked at a shoe shop he owned on Wesley Street in Southport.
In information released after Mr Bostock's death, police said there were three mystery guests who attended his home on the night of the murder.
Before he was murdered police understand Mr Bostock had hosted a Christmas party and believe up to three people were at his house on the night he died.
The three people have never been traced by police and no signs of a struggle were found at the scene.
Police also found that belongings were stolen from his bungalow.
Detectives investigating the murder discovered a number of items had been stolen from Mr Bostock's briefcase.
It was found that around £600 to £700 was stolen along with his highly distinctive watch - a Bulova Accutron ‘Spaceview’ - which has never been traced.
More than 5,000 people were interviewed and more than 2,000 lines of enquiry followed in the case, and when a Crimewatch appeal was launched in 2004, police said they had received a number of calls that were being followed up.
The last clue was an anonymous letter sent to police in 2003, which included details about the murder.
However the person who sent the letter has never been found and since the tip-off the trail has gone cold.
Most recently, in 2005, a man was arrested after he failed to volunteer a DNA sample as part of the investigation into Mr Bostock’s death.
He was not charged and no other charges have been made in the investigation.
At the time of the murder DNA testing was in its very early stages and only some years later were detectives able to look more closely at items of evidence found during the initial inquiry.
Police had hoped that the new technology would help uncover new leads and back in 2004 detective superintendent Mick Turner said: “People will know we’ve got significant advances in scientific technology and the techniques we use to investigate.
“Coupling that with the national publicity a Crimewatch appeal will give us, we hope someone will come forward with some fresh information.”
Anyone who has information about Nigel, particularly relating to the night he died, should contact Lancashire Police on 01695 566041 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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