Mum of Bolton woman Sarah Melia appeal for help 13 years on from her murder

Sarah Melia, 34, was found with six stab wounds in her back at her home on Catherine Street West in Horwich on January 14, 2008.

Her body was discovered at the bottom of the stairs in her home by her teenage daughter Meghan.

A post mortem investigation found that Sarah had suffered four superficial stab wounds in her chest and damage to her ribs as well as the six fatal puncture wounds in her back.

Detectives discovered the murder weapon on the roof of an extension close to the home.

Further investigations led to the arrest of Sarah’s brother Mark Kitchen – who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia.

He was charged with the murder but following two collapsed trials, he was found not guilty by a jury in 2009.

Mr Kitchen now has no contact with the family.

Since Sarah’s death, her mum Marian, 67, has appealed for anyone with information to come forward in the hope of finding conclusive evidence.

The murder attracted national media attention and was featured on BBC show Crimewatch, including a re-enactment of the shocking incident.

Sarah Melia

Marion said: “At this time of the year it goes through my family’s heads what happened and how it happened.

“Sarah was a warm, kind-hearted person and a wonderful mother to Meghan and Ethan.

“She is never far away from our conversations and thoughts.

“Me and her were best friends, we could tell each other anything.

“Everyone was so shocked by what happened.

“Sarah was not involved in anything.

“All she lived for was her children.

“None of us know why it happened to her.

“It was a shock and even after 13 years it is still as raw as if it was yesterday or last week.”

Marion lives in hope that each time she appeals for information someone will come forward and provide a breakthrough for the case.

“All we want is answers,” Marion said.

“Obviously someone knows something but we are nowhere nearer to finding the truth.

“We want to know why it happened.

“It might just be a little bit of information that gets the police interested.

“Sarah deserves justice at the end of the day and a bit of peace.

“Obviously somebody knows who did it but in 13 years nothing has changed.

“I won’t stop appealing for information until we get answers, until I have done everything I can.

“We have hope, and we hope that someone will think of Meghan and Ethan and help us.”

Sarah Melia Flowers left for Sarah

Greater Manchester Police continue to investigate the murder of Sarah, who went to Smithills Secondary School and worked at a launderette on Lee Lane in Horwich.

Martin Bottomley, of GMP’s Cold Case Review Unit, said: “As a force, we are constantly reviewing unsolved murders and will always act on new information that is passed to us.

“It has sadly been 13 years since Sarah was brutally murdered at her home in Bolton on January 14, 2008.

“While we have not found the answers yet, this case will remain open until Sarah’s killer is found and brought to justice.

“We understand it has been 13 years, however, anyone with information that may assist with our investigation is asked to contact us by calling our dedicated Cold Case line on 0161 856 5978 or alternatively, by contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”