New CCTV images have been released showing a murdered dog walker moments before she was attacked. Anita Rose, 57, left her home in Brantham, Suffolk, at 5 am on July 24 to take her dog Bruce for a walk. She was later found by a cyclist unconscious on a track near the railway line with traumatic head injuries and died at Addenbrookes Hospital four days later. Detectives have now released new CCTV of the mum-of-six on the morning she was attacked wearing a pink Regatta Calderdale II jacket, which is still missing.
Crimestoppers is now offering a £20,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for her death. On BBC’s Crimewatch on Monday, Anita’s daughter Gemma Cox spoke publicly for the first time since the incident and said the attackers ‘need to face justice’. Gemma said: “We haven’t got our mum and our mum isn’t here to look after us anymore. My mum is going to miss out birthdays, the birth of her grandson and my brother getting married next year.”
“We don’t understand how someone could brutally attack someone who is walking their dog. We need to find the person who did this to my mum. They need to face justice.” Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Connick said: “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.
“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 the 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.”
A potential witness remains unidentified, and police are keen to trace a man seen on CCTV on the morning of the attack. The man is not believed to be a suspect, and police believe he may be able to assist with the inquiry.