£20,000 reward to find killer of mum stabbed repeatedly in 'prolonged attack'

19 October 2023 , 14:02

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Lyn was 40 when she died (Image: PA)

Cops investigating the unsolved murder of mum Lyn Bryant have revealed a £20,000 reward for information leading to her killer.

The 40-year-old's death 25 years ago remains a mystery but detectives from Devon & Cornwall police are convinced they can finally crack it. Linda, or 'Lyn', as she was better know, was killed on Tuesday, October 20, 1998, while out walking her dog near her home in the village of Ruan High Lanes, Cornwall.

She had been stabbed a number of times in a prolonged attack. Over the years there have been multiple theories about her death but detectives remain convinced her killer has a link to the local area.

They are also focused on three critical witness reports of three unknown men seen in the area at the time. The three remain unidentified - a man seen speaking with Lyn at the chapel, a scruffy bearded man in a small white van and a man walking in a nearby field.

The van has never been traced and all three men have never come forward. Detectives also have a partial DNA profile which is believed to be that of the killer. Since October 2016 officers have been retaking DNA samples from people across the UK to check them against the partial profile.

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She was found dead 25 years ago (PA)

Some are selected from the National DNA Database while others are being drawn from 6,000 individuals who gave DNA to the original enquiry. So far 224 samples have been retaken and tested. A substantial reward of £20,000 is now being offered by independent charity Crimestoppers for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the offender.

Only information passed through the charity will be eligible for the reward. Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Rob Smith, from the Force Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “For 25 years the family of Lyn Bryant have lived with this terrible loss and uncertainty. However, time has not diminished our commitment to bring the killer to justice and to give the family some peace.

Police want the public's help (PA)

“We know that 25 years is a long time but we remain convinced that someone knows what happened to Lyn and for some reason they have never come forward. Allegiances may have changed with the passage of time and those who found it difficult to talk to police may now feel able. Now is the time to contact us.”

One of the most mysterious aspects of the case was the re-appearance of Lyn's tortoiseshell glasses which she was wearing at the time of her death. They were not found during a fingertip search of the crime scene and surrounding area but appeared Four months later, on 2 February 1999, on top of the mud in the gateway where her body was found.

DI Smith said: “The reappearance of Lyn’s glasses remains a real mystery in this case. Why were they put back there? Were they found by somebody and returned to the scene or were they put there by the murderer?”

Ruan High Lanes Methodist Church, where witnesses saw Lyn Bryant walking (PA)

DI Smith added: “Lyn lived in Ruan High Lanes her whole life and was very popular with so many people. She was a wife, mother, and grandmother, and loved family life. She would have felt extremely safe in that area and walked for miles each day with her dog around the quiet lanes. For her life to be taken in such a brutal and horrific way is extremely sad.

"Her family have never found peace knowing that the offender remains free – 25 years have gone by but this has not lessened the pain of what happened to her that awful day. We maintain the view that the public holds the key to this investigation. I would urge anyone who had suspicions about any relative, friend or colleague who was acting suspiciously around the time of the murder to please come forward and help us bring some peace to Lyn’s family. Now is the time.”

•The public can report information through the Major Incident Public Portal: Public Portal ( mipp.police.uk )

•Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or via their non-traceable online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. More information about how to claim and the eligibility for the reward can be found on the Crimestoppers website.

Adam Aspinall