MOTHER-of-two Vera Anderson could have been killed by a French truck driver, her daughter has revealed.
Lorraine Tynan has spoken for the first time about the disturbing discoveries she has made since her mother was murdered.
It is exactly seven years ago this week since the bloodstained body of Vera, 42, was found slumped in the front seat of her car in an alleyway off Tannery Lane, Penketh.
In a violent struggle, she had been strangled and her throat slashed.
Despite a massive murder inquiry in which 6,500 people were interviewed, detectives still have no idea why Vera was killed.
She had not been raped, sexually assaulted or robbed - her bank account and lifestyle showed no sign of wealth.
Lorraine, 26, has now decided to speak publicly for the first time about her own personal theories.
She fears her mother may have become involved in something out of her depth - and the mistake cost her her life.
Lorraine is convinced someone reading this paper may hold vital clues which could lead detectives to the savage killer.
"I think the man who killed her was foreign, possibly a French lorry driver," said Lorraine, of Widnes, who now has two young daughters.
"I believe there are people here who know who killed my mother."
Lorraine used to visit her mother for several hours every day at her home in Hadfield Close, Halton View, or she would call on her.
She felt she knew her better than anyone and was alarmed to discover her mother was leading a double life.
Vera had secret rendezvous in Widnes and had made foreign trips to France and Holland in a lorry.
"The police told me they found my mum's diary which recorded meetings she had on Mondays at six," said Lorraine. "I knew nothing at all about that.
"It also came out that she had been to France, Holland and another country in a lorry."
On the night of the murder, Saturday, August 24 1991, Vera dashed out of her house after receiving a mystery phone call.
At about 10.10pm, she asked her neighbour, Hettie Dix, to look after her seven-year-old son, Neil, for 10 minutes, saying she was just popping out to pick up her brother.
She left the TV and lights switched on and didn't even take her purse.
"The neighbour saw her take a red box and my daughter's buggy out of the boot of her car before she drove off," said Lorraine.
"To me, something strange was going on. She was using the car for something."
A woman fitting Vera's description was spotted in the Crown and Cushion pub in Penketh, up until 11pm, chatting to a man. The mystery man has never been identified.
At 11pm, residents saw a car with lights on parked in an alleyway off Tannery Lane. At 1.30am, a couple walking past the same spot, noticed a car parked with its lights on.
The alarm was raised at 3.15am, when a local man passing by found Vera's body slumped over the front seat.
A murder weapon, a sharp knife, was never found but a glove, discovered nearby, had Vera's blood and hair on it.
Lorraine said: "I want people who have information to know how my mother died.
"It is seven years on now. People are forgetting but it is still on my mind every day.
"If anyone out there has any information, however small, please tell the police."
The inquiry into Vera Anderson's death remains open and police are anxious to speak to anyone who may have information. Ring Detective Sergeant Ian Hughes on 0124 613831.
More than 70 detectives were involved in the murder hunt in a long painstaking inquiry.
So far:
6,500 people have been interviewed
Statements have been taken from 1,352 people
184 taxi drivers have been interviewed
308 lorry drivers have been interviewed including foreigners from France, Italy, Turkey and Holland
164 new lines of enquiry were followed up after Vera's murder was featured on BBC TV's Crimewatch
Calls have been received from psychics and clairvoyants
Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article