The family of Melanie Hall have shared their fears of never finding out who murdered their 25-year-old daughter and sister, as a new campaign is launched after the victim's disappearance three decades ago. Melanie was last seen at 1.10am on Sunday June 9, 1996, sitting on a stool at the edge of the dancefloor in Cadillacs nightclub in Walcot Street, Bath, following a night out with friends and her boyfriend. Her remains were found 13 years later by a workman next to the northbound slip road of the M5 at junction 14 in Thornbury, south Gloucestershire, on October 5, 2009. Melanie suffered extensive head injuries and was found wrapped in black bin liners, tied with blue rope. Her clothing, jewellery and belongings have never been found.The death of the clerical worker, who worked at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, remains a mystery 30 years later, as the Avon and Somerset police mark the anniversary for her disappearance with a new appeal for details or memories. The 'Justice for Melanie' campaign urges anyone who was in Bath that night, when England drew 1-1 with Switzerland in their opening Euro 1996 match, to come forward with any potential snippet of information. Melanie's father Steve Hall and sister Dominique said they are both desperate to find answers after the devastating ordeal the family has gone through. Speaking about the long fight for justice, Mr Hall said: 'You will always think in the early days that there'll be a quick resolution of what's happened. That's not been the case. Melanie Hall (pictured) was murdered at 25 years old, her death remains a mystery three decades later Melanie's father Steve Hall and sister Dominique (pictured) said they are both desperate to find answers after the devastating ordeal the family has gone through'But we travel in hope. And if it's 30, 40 or 50 years, whatever it takes to come to a conclusion. I just hope I live long enough to see a conclusion, but we must see what the outcome is.'Mr Hall, who is now 82, said the 'only closure' he would get is if 'Melanie walked through [the door]', adding 'so there's never going to be closure'. He added: 'I think what we are hoping for, and always have hoped for, is that at some point in time there will be a change of mind for whatever reason. It may be someone dying and they want to make a confession. 'It may be that someone has suddenly fallen out with their partner and no longer wants to protect them. 'But I feel that somewhere along the line we are hoping that there will be a change in someone's mind and that they will come forward with information that for whatever reason they withheld up until now.' The grieving father said for him 'justice will be bringing Melanie back', however tragically noted 'that's not going to happen'. 'We do feel that if we can actually bring Melanie's killer or killers into court, then at least we've done the last we can do for her in her name', he said. 'I personally assumed that she was dead after a few days. Once you get past the stage where she might have been kidnapped or something like that, then I could see no other solution.Melanie last seen at 1.10am on Sunday June 9, 1996, sitting on a stool at the edge of the dancefloor in Cadillacs nightclub (pictured) in Walcot Street, Bath, following a night out with friends and her boyfriend Melanie's remains were found 13 years later by a workman next to the northbound slip road of the M5 at junction 14 in Thornbury, south Gloucestershire, (pictured) on October 5, 2009'But it was a slow process, really. Each time a body was found you are thinking, is this her?'Mr Hall described the discovery of Melanie's body as providing a 'feeling of relief', saying: 'You could actually start work on the case because you knew what you were dealing with. I mean, before that, the police were actually still dealing with a missing person.' Melanie's mother Pat now suffers from advanced dementia. Mr Hall links her current state to the discovery of her daughter's remains, adding he believes 'she gave up when Melanie was found'. He said: 'I think she kept going until that point in time. When she got her daughter back, I think for her that was the end of it. She wasn't the same afterwards.'Dominique, who is nearing 60, described her 'biggest challenge' over the last three decades of her sister's disappearance as the possibility that Melanie was 'scared and frightened'. 'I hope and pray that whatever happened to her was quick and she didn't know it was coming,' she said. The sister expressed feelings of anger over her sister losing her life at 25, which 'someone chose to take away from her', adding: 'It won't change things [if we find out what happened]. It will never bring Melanie back. It will never take away the 30 years of what we've lost with her, will it? 'It will never ever change that. But I'd like justice for her.' Mr Hall described his daughter as 'very trusting and possibly naive', which he believes 'could have contributed to her demise'Dominique said: 'I feel like we're running out of time before we're gone...She's been gone longer than she was alive. It's like a feeling of time ticking on a little bit now. 'Dad's 82 now, and I'm not far off 60, and I hope we get the answers that we need and the justice for her while we're still able to.' Mr Hall described his daughter as 'very trusting and possibly naive', which he believes 'could have contributed to her demise', adding: 'She wouldn't have thought ill of anyone and I think that might have been a contributive factor.'While he said he would fail to 'identify' with her murderer. Mr Hall said: 'I view that person a bit like you would view a wild animal that attacked and killed your daughter. I can't identify them as a human being. Inhumane.' She got engaged to a killer - then made a mistake she couldn't take back Hi, I'm Alex Matthews, Editor of The Crime Desk, and I've got an exclusive story you won't want to miss.In 2020, Caroline Muirhead got engaged to her boyfriend of just a few weeks, thinking: 'What's the worst that could happen?'. She soon found out he was a killer, and then made a big mistake. Sign up to read the story for free. Melanie's clothing, jewellery and belongings have never been found, including a pale blue silk dress, black suede mule shoes, cream single-breasted jacket, Next watch, silver drop earrings and a black handbag.Mr Hall described his family as being 'stoic' as 'police inquiries mounted', as it is 'very easy to get carried away when you think something is going to happen'. He said in the early days of Melanie's disappearance there was 'almost a distance between reality and myself', as nothing can prepare one for what happened to the family. Mr Hall continued: 'You always think they're going to happen to someone else. As the years went by, a certain sort of numbness crept in.'Lead investigator Detective Chief Inspector Ben Lavender said: 'The murder of Melanie Hall is one of the longest running and highest profile investigations ever carried out by Avon and Somerset Police, with hundreds of officers working on the case over the years.'As we approach the 30th anniversary, the 'Justice for Melanie' campaign is asking people to think back: Just a minute of your time...to take you back to Saturday 8 June 1996. Just a normal night out in Bath...enjoying a few drinks with your friends. Not just another night for Melanie Hall...it was the last confirmed sighting of her alive.'Just one small detail or memory...could prove to be a huge breakthrough and solve Melanie's murder.'Mr Hall paid tribute to Avon and Somerset Police, who he said had put 'maximum effort' into solving the case.'They keep at it, they're like a dog with a bone and we're forever grateful for that,' he said. Mr Hall paid tribute to Avon and Somerset Police, who he said had put 'maximum effort' into solving the case. Pictured: Crates filled with documents relating to the investigation into Melanie's deathThe independent charity Crimestoppers is putting up a reward of up to £20,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for Melanie's murder. Contact Avon and Somerset Police via the Major Incident Public Portal or call 101 with information for the Operation Denmark team.'Justice for Melanie' features bold, highly visual campaign messages that will be showcased on the digital screen during the match between Bath Rugby and Leicester Tigers on Saturday June 6.They will also appear on an advertising van travelling around Bath, and will be further amplified across the city by The Forum, Komedia, Ludo Sports Bar & Kitchen, Walcot House, Bath and North East Somerset Council, Bath libraries and Bath Business Improvement District, all helping encourage people to come forward.The campaign also includes a new film featuring a clip of the Three Lions anthem 'Football's Coming Home'.DCI Lavender added: 'Melanie's family have endured unimaginable pain and uncertainty for three decades and have shown extraordinary strength and resilience throughout this time.'Everything we do is driven by the need to provide them with the justice and answers they so desperately need.'
Melanie Hall's family say time is running out to identify her killer
Melanie was last seen at 1.10am on Sunday June 9, 1996, sitting on a stool at the edge of the dancefloor in Cadillacs nightclub (now Walcot House) in Walcot Street, Bath.







