Suffolk Police release new CCTV and renew appeal for information on Suffolk dog walker's murder
Suffolk Police says Anita's family 'deserves answers'
Last updated 17th Oct 2024
Charity Crimestoppers is offering a £20,000 reward for anyone with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the death of a dog walker in Suffolk.
5\7 year-old Anita Rose, from Brantham, was found unconscious with serious injuries early on the morning of Wednesday 24th July 2024.
She'd had left her house at around 5am to take her springer spaniel dog, Bruce, for a walk but was found critically injured by a member of public at approximately 6:25am.
Renewed police appeal
It comes as police have now released new CCTV footage of Anita on the morning she was attacked on the start of her walk at Palfrey Heights at around 5am, and later walking on Rectory Lane at 5.17am.
In the footage Anita is wearing dark leggings, trainers and a pink jacket, which detectives have since confirmed is a discontinued cerise-coloured Regatta Calderdale II jacket.
She was later found by a male cyclist lying on a track road near the sewage works and railway line, off Rectory Lane, unconscious and he called an ambulance.
With her jacket taken, she was found wearing only her bra on her top half, as well as leggings and trainers on her lower half, with Bruce’s lead wrapped around her leg.
The dog was not harmed.
Anita was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital having sustained serious head and facial injuries.
She died there four days later (Sunday 28th July).
Anita’s pink Regatta jacket, black phone case which is described as quilted with a gold crown and stud detail, and white Samsung Galaxy Buds2 earphones all remain missing, and detectives are continuing to appeal for information relating to these items as they think they may hold key information or evidence for the investigation.
“We continue to investigate all possible motives for the attack"
They're also still trying to identify a potential witness - a man seen on CCTV on the morning of the attack - who they think may be able to assist with the inquiry.
He's not believed to be a suspect.
Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Connick, the senior investigating officer, said: “It was a light morning and Anita was seen on CCTV wearing a distinctive, brightly coloured jacket during her walk.
She was not wearing this when she was found injured by the member of public and we do not know why this was removed or where it is now.
“We continue to investigate all possible motives for the attack, and from our enquiries so far there is nothing to suggest that Anita was sexually assaulted.
“We know Anita used an app on her phone that enabled her to track the route she was taking around the village. She and Bruce walked in a north easterly direction from Palfrey Heights, circled the church and walked south of Rectory Lane into the open countryside.
“She then followed a path along the railway line that runs through Brantham until she turned right towards the top of Newmill Lane. Anita followed Newmill Lane down to the river and doubled back to the top of Newmill Lane where she stopped her app at 6:03am, having walked approximately three miles.
“We know from previous walks that this is the same location where Anita has previously stopped the app and we believe she then retraced her steps away from Newmill Lane with the intent to finish her walk via Decoy Pond but was subject to an attack before she was able to reach it.”
Police have carried out extensive enquiries since the incident, including forensic work, searches, house-to-house enquiries and CCTV analysis.
Specialist officers continue to support Anita’s family and are keeping them updated on the investigation during this distressing time.”
“Anita’s family deserve answers"
DCI Connick added: “I’d like to express my thanks to all those who have come forward with information so far and encourage anyone else who can help with our investigation to please contact police if you haven’t already done so.
“Anita’s family deserve answers and anyone with information, no matter how big, small or even irrelevant it may initially seem, are urged to contact us as it may assist us to establish the full circumstances surrounding Anita’s injuries and subsequent death.”
"My mum dotes on us all and we miss her"
Jessica Cox, one of Ms Rose's daughters, told BBC's Crimewatch Live: "We don't understand how someone could brutally, horrifically attack someone when they're walking their dog.
"I really want anyone that has any information, however small or insignificant they think it may be, to come forward and speak to the police.
"We need to find the person that done this to my mum.
"They need to face justice.
"It won't be enough but they've done it to my mum and they could do it to somebody else and they're still out there."
Ms Cox described her mother as a "beautiful, strong, independent woman" who was "funny and she's so kind".
"My mum's got six kids, I've got four brothers and a sister, and she looks after all of us, and she loved to spend time with all of us, with all of her grandchildren," she said.
"My mum has a long-term partner, Richard. They've been together 13 years.
"They adored each other and mum was planning on growing old with him.
"My mum dotes on us all and we miss her."
She said her mother moved to Brantham around six years ago.
"She just loved the area, literally loved walking and seeing people in the community, and Mum said to me that she feels safe here," said Ms Cox.
"Mum would get up early to walk Bruce in the mornings so that he had a good walk before she went to work.
"Being a springer he needed a lot of exercise."
"She had so much to live for, so much she was looking forward to"
She described Ms Rose's funeral last month as "a difficult day because we shouldn't be having to have a funeral for my mum".
"She's 57 years old and she had so much to live for, so much she was looking forward to," she said.
"She was supposed to be on holiday right now.
"We haven't got our mum and our mum isn't here to look after us any more.
"My mum is going to miss out on birthdays, the birth of my nephew, her grandson, she's going to miss my brother getting married next year."