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| New DNA evidence found in 1998 Lyn Bryant murder case | New DNA evidence found in 1998 Lyn Bryant murder case |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| New DNA evidence that could help solve the brutal murder of a woman 20 years ago has been uncovered by police. | |
| Lyn Bryant, 40, was found dead in the gateway of a field on Cornwall's remote Roseland Peninsula on 20 October 1998. | Lyn Bryant, 40, was found dead in the gateway of a field on Cornwall's remote Roseland Peninsula on 20 October 1998. |
| The investigation into her death has been one of the longest-running and largest ever carried out by Devon and Cornwall Police but the identity of her attacker has remained a mystery. | The investigation into her death has been one of the longest-running and largest ever carried out by Devon and Cornwall Police but the identity of her attacker has remained a mystery. |
| But detectives now say they have the DNA of the mother-of-two's killer. | But detectives now say they have the DNA of the mother-of-two's killer. |
| Investigators and Mrs Bryant's family hope this evidence - a partial DNA profile recovered from her body and swabs from the scene - which was uncovered in 2016 during a forensic review of the case, will lead to a resolution. | Investigators and Mrs Bryant's family hope this evidence - a partial DNA profile recovered from her body and swabs from the scene - which was uncovered in 2016 during a forensic review of the case, will lead to a resolution. |
| "It means we can use that to eliminate somebody fairly quickly," said retired detective inspector and current senior investigating officer Stuart Ellis. | "It means we can use that to eliminate somebody fairly quickly," said retired detective inspector and current senior investigating officer Stuart Ellis. |
| "This type of case is rare in such a quiet, rural location; it has always been a frustration that somebody has been able to get into that rural location, commit such a murder and not be seen or identified by anybody." | "This type of case is rare in such a quiet, rural location; it has always been a frustration that somebody has been able to get into that rural location, commit such a murder and not be seen or identified by anybody." |
| During the original investigation, about 6,000 people had DNA taken. | During the original investigation, about 6,000 people had DNA taken. |
| However, these samples were destroyed because of a change in legislation in 2013, just three years before new technology allowed scientists to piece together the partial DNA profile Mr Ellis said he was sure belonged to Mrs Bryant's killer. | However, these samples were destroyed because of a change in legislation in 2013, just three years before new technology allowed scientists to piece together the partial DNA profile Mr Ellis said he was sure belonged to Mrs Bryant's killer. |
| He said officers were now going back over the list and retaking samples from some people on it. | He said officers were now going back over the list and retaking samples from some people on it. |
| Mr Ellis said three suspects arrested during the investigation and cleared at least 10 years ago had now also been eliminated forensically. | Mr Ellis said three suspects arrested during the investigation and cleared at least 10 years ago had now also been eliminated forensically. |
| The three unidentified men: | The three unidentified men: |
| Devon and Cornwall Police have long wanted to trace three unidentified men spotted in the vicinity on the day of Lyn Bryant's murder: | Devon and Cornwall Police have long wanted to trace three unidentified men spotted in the vicinity on the day of Lyn Bryant's murder: |
| Detectives have said they believed Mrs Bryant's murder was sexually motivated because of the way her clothes had been disturbed. | Detectives have said they believed Mrs Bryant's murder was sexually motivated because of the way her clothes had been disturbed. |
| She had suffered stab wounds to her back, neck and chest and Mr Ellis said Mrs Bryant was in "contact with her attacker for some period of time", having been stabbed while she stood up and in a horizontal position. | She had suffered stab wounds to her back, neck and chest and Mr Ellis said Mrs Bryant was in "contact with her attacker for some period of time", having been stabbed while she stood up and in a horizontal position. |
| Mrs Bryant's daughter, Lee Taylor, was just 21 and a new mother herself when officers came to her house to tell her "there's been an accident". | Mrs Bryant's daughter, Lee Taylor, was just 21 and a new mother herself when officers came to her house to tell her "there's been an accident". |
| Now 41, Mrs Taylor told the BBC her memory of the "surreal" following days and weeks was hazy but said the worst part was "thinking about what her last moments were like, when she was there on her own". | Now 41, Mrs Taylor told the BBC her memory of the "surreal" following days and weeks was hazy but said the worst part was "thinking about what her last moments were like, when she was there on her own". |
| "I think that's probably the hardest bit that I do try not to think about," she added. | "I think that's probably the hardest bit that I do try not to think about," she added. |
| Mrs Taylor said she believed the killer was "still out there", adding: "You feel like somebody is watching you. | Mrs Taylor said she believed the killer was "still out there", adding: "You feel like somebody is watching you. |
| "I have felt like that for a very long time... We are just hoping that maybe there is somebody out there who had suspicions at the time but wasn't able to do anything about it." | "I have felt like that for a very long time... We are just hoping that maybe there is somebody out there who had suspicions at the time but wasn't able to do anything about it." |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
| Anyone with information is asked to call the dedicated incident room number on 0800 096 1233. | Anyone with information is asked to call the dedicated incident room number on 0800 096 1233. |
| Timeline of the murder | Timeline of the murder |
| BBC Inside Out South West's report can be seen on BBC One in the South West at 19:30 BST on Monday 15 October, and afterwards on the BBC iPlayer. | BBC Inside Out South West's report can be seen on BBC One in the South West at 19:30 BST on Monday 15 October, and afterwards on the BBC iPlayer. |