Wednesday January 9, 1985. Reg Makepeace lit another cigarette. Jill wanted him to give up. He had tried so many times but couldn’t. One day. But not today. Too bloody cold! Uniformed officers were combing the towpath. Somewhere along here Karen Carter had disappeared. Makepeace looked back in the direction of the terrace houses along Bishop Street. Karen’s mum said that she had left home in a hurry; had been out late at a New Year’s Day party. Got home at 2 o’clock in the morning. Mum heard her being sick in the toilet at about 3.00 am. Then nothing until 5 to 7 when she rushed out of the house. ‘See yah, Mam’ were the last words Bessie Carter heard.

Witnesses saw her walking quickly down to the canal and then almost tiptoeing along the towpath to avoid slipping. A pity t...

Please subscribe to keep reading.