By Luke Salkeld and Ryan Kisiel
Last updated at 1:25 PM on 18th January 2011
- Please be 'armchair detectives' ask parents, who say killer could strike again
The parents of Joanna Yeates fear someone is shielding their daughter's murderer – and that the killer could strike again.
David and Theresa Yeates last night made an emotional appeal for information about the murderer.
They said they were in 'torment' and feared that people who could lead the police to the killer had not come forward.
The parents of Joanna Yeates, flanked by her boyfriend Greg Reardon (right) and brother Chris, last night made an emotional appeal for information about her murderer
Flanked by Joanna's boyfriend Greg Reardon, 27, and brother Chris, 28, they said they believed that Jo knew her murderer.
The body of the murdered architect was found on Christmas day. Jo's parents said yesterday that they believed their daughter knew her killer
They called for people to be 'armchair detectives' and to turn in anyone they have suspicions about.
Mrs Yeates, 58, said: 'Many of us are armchair detectives. Scenarios abound regarding Jo.
'But has someone tried to impress on you a scenario which has been inconsistent with the information released by the police - and refused to change it?
'The nation is shocked and appalled by what has happened to our daughter. Do you know someone who has been, somehow, justifying her being killed?
'Something apparently insignificant could trigger the killer to kill again.'
In the televised appeal, Mrs Yeates asked members of the public to think back to the weekend Joanna disappeared and think about the people they knew.
She said: 'Do you know anyone that hasn't been shocked or disturbed?
'Has anyone you know had an unusual or inexplicable reaction? Was their behaviour unusual on the weekend of 17/18/19th December, or throughout the past three weeks?'
Mrs Yeates continued: 'Do you know someone who has been behaving out of character either by actions, or what is said – or not said?
'Do you know someone who has inexplicably become reclusive, quiet or vocal?'
She said: 'If you do know something and you do not come forward, you are consciously hampering the apprehension of Jo's killer and the perpetrator is still free. You will also be prolonging the torment of Jo's family and friends.'
Jo's body was found by the side of a country road on Christmas morning – eight days after she went missing.
Mrs Yeates said: 'Did anyone use a car at an unusual hour? Or did anyone borrow your car? Many people surely know what has happened to Jo, and where they are at risk and if so, what they can do to protect themselves. Something apparently insignificant could trigger the killer to kill again.'
Mr Yeates said: 'The last few weeks have been an absolute nightmare and we want to do everything we can to make sure every bit of information is picked up as quickly as possible.'
The layout of Joanna Yeates's flat (left) and the house and garden of the property. Her killer could have entered and left her flat without being seen by any of her neighbours, official documents reveal
Mrs Yeates said she and her 63-year-old husband felt they were able to help police by passing on intimate knowledge of their daughter's personality.
The filmed appeal is due to be broadcast for the first time this morning. Expressing support for the Avon and Somerset Police investigation, Mrs Yeates also referred to the extra contact their daughter's killer may have had with friends and family over Christmas.
She said: 'The last few weeks have encompassed an extensive festive period. Many people will have probably been socialising and spending extra time with family and friends. Nearly the whole country has been moved by the tragic events surrounding Jo's murder. Many of us are "armchair detectives", but if this activity triggers anything please come forward.'
Jo with boyfriend Greg Reardon. Greg joined Jo's parents yesterday as they made a televised appeal imploring the public to come forward with any information that might help the murder inquiry
The Yeates' appeal comes as detectives are due to begin filming a reconstruction of Miss Yeates's last movements for BBC's Crimewatch which is due to be broadcast on January 26.
She is known to have left work colleagues at a pub in Bristol around 8pm on December 17, stopping at three shops on her way back to her 200,000 rented flat in Canynge Road, Clifton.
Her coat, boots, keys and mobile phone were all found in the flat less than a week before her clothed body was found, minus one sock, on Longwood Lane, three miles away. Anyone with information on the murder should call Avon and Somerset Police on 0845 456 7000.
THE FULL STATEMENT FROM JO'S FAMILY
Tragic: Murder victim Jo Yeates
'Firstly, we would like to say that we feel we are part of the police investigation, just as much as the investigating officers.
'We spend much of our time – as I imagine most of the country does – thinking of scenarios which took Jo, alive in her flat, to being found dead by the side of a country lane. These scenarios change as events unfold, and new facts are made available.
'All our thoughts are passed back to the police. Although we invariably do not have all the facts known by the police, we do know Jo. We know what Jo would do, and how she would react in different situations. This, we believe, is our major contribution.
'Whatever we do or say, we do not want to frustrate or compromise the police investigation.
'For over three weeks there has been extensive media coverage of Jo's disappearance and murder. The last few weeks have encompassed an extensive festive period.
'Many people will have probably been socialising and spending extra time with family and friends.
'Nearly the whole country has been moved by the tragic events surrounding Jo's murder.
'Many of us are 'armchair detectives', but if this activity triggers anything, please come forward.
'If you do know something and you do not come forward you are consciously hampering the apprehension of Jo's killer(s) and the perpetrator(s) is still free.
'You will also be prolonging the torment of Jo's family and friends. Do you know anyone that hasn't been shocked or disturbed? Has anyone you know had an unusual or inexplicable reaction?
'Was their behaviour unusual on the weekend of 17/18/19th December, or throughout the past three weeks?
'Do you know someone who has been behaving out of character either by actions, or what is said – or not said? Do you know someone who has inexplicably become reclusive, quiet or vocal?
'As mentioned above, scenarios abound regarding Jo. Has someone tried to impress on you a scenario which has been inconsistent with the information released by the police at that time – and refused to change it?
'It would appear that the nation is shocked and appalled by what has happened to our daughter. Do you know someone who has been, somehow, justifying her being killed?
'Please help us identify the killer. Jo was probably acquainted with her killer.
'We are sure the killer will be brought to justice. When this happens, please think how you will feel, if you knew the killer, and you had questions in your mind which you consciously refused to act on.'
Although it's not of any consolation, it's fortunate that the victim's body was found, It's likely that the killer's intention was to make that not the case, however severe weather conditions at that time may have decided otherwise - last thing a killer would want is to have their vehicle abandoned and attracting attention, hence possibly why the body was left at the roadside..............Which begs the question: was why it essential to move the body - perhaps to delay the knowledge of the victims demise, enabling the killer to slip back into their regular routine, or simply that the victim or body having been in situ would implicate someone.............Anyone who knew the victim's eating habits would know if the pizza had any particular significance - for who and why.
- james, tunbridge wells, 18/1/2011 17:21
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