Thirty one years ago today just after 3am a mother-of-two was found murdered in her own car. A mystery phone call had led to the death of Veronica Anderson.
Known as Vera, she left her home in Widnes at 10.10pm on Saturday August 24th 1991 after receiving the call. Five hours later she was discovered with her throat cut in her blue Ford Cortina.
Whoever made the call, and whatever they said, made her leave the house in Hadfield Close in a hurry and get a neighbour to babysit her seven-year-old son. She drove her son to the neighbour's home saying she would be back in ten minutes as she "had an appointment". She never returned.
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The 42-year-old was found in her vehicle in Tannery Lane in Penketh, Warrington. It was parked set back from the road in what was at the time a lovers' lane hideaway - a winding road of derelict buildings and open land - popular with courting couples. The location was a mile from her Widnes home, off the A580 East Lancashire Road.
Vera was slumped over the driving wheel. No murder weapon was ever found but nearby was a single blood-stained "Minette" cotton glove and a length of sash cord.
A murder investigation was launched, but it was more than three decades later in March this year when two people were arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the case. A 70-year-old man from Widnes and a 61-year-old woman from Warrington were arrested on suspicion of murder on Wednesday 23 March. They both were released under investigation.
One potentially key line of enquiry is a brown hatchback car. The car was seen on the service road where Vera's body was later found. At about 11.15pm on the night Vera died a witness was travelling along Tannery Road when a car emerged from the service road - the same road where Vera's body was later found. The car is described as a brown hatchback type vehicle.
Today on the anniversary of Vera’s death, a detective appealed for anyone who has any information about the case to come forward. Detective Chief Inspector Adam Waller said: “A lot has changed in the last 31 years however for Vera’s family, time has stood still. No matter how many years pass, Vera’s death remains to have an impact on their lives. We will continue to work on any snippet of information that is provided to us and are committed to doing everything possible to find those responsible and bring them to justice.”
Anyone with any information is urged to contact Cheshire Constabulary via https://www.cheshire.police.uk/police-forces/cheshire-constabulary/areas/cheshire/about-us/about-us/provide-more-information-about-an-appeal/ or call 101 quoting occurrence number 0709373610.
If you do not want to speak to the police then information can also be passed on anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111 or via https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously
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