HANDCUFFED, gagged then bludgeoned to death in her own home, the gruesome details of Janet Brown’s murder were enough to strike fear into anyone.
The mum-of-three was alone in her Radnage, Buckinghamshire, house when an intruder burst in and restrained her.
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Janet, 51, was then beaten over the head and left at the bottom of the stairs where she was discovered by a builder carrying out work on her garage.
Her “extremely brutal” murder in April 1995 remains unsolved – meaning Janet’s killer could still be roaming the streets.
But if that thought was not chilling enough, her death was linked to another murder just 18 miles away.
Carolanne Jackson was also bound and battered to death in her own home in Wooburn Green, Buckinghamshire, almost two years to the day.
Like Janet’s murder, her killer was also never caught – with many believing the same monster could be behind both attacks.
On the 30th anniversary of Janet’s murder, a £20,000 reward has been offered for information.
Head of Thames Valley Police‘s Major Crime Investigation Review Team, Peter Beirne said: “I still believe there are people who have information or suspicions about this vicious murder.
“I would urge anyone with names of people they think could be linked to Janet’s murder or anyone with information to make contact with the police or Crimestoppers.
“Do you have a friend or loved one who acts strangely when this case is mentioned in the news, or someone who is obsessed with this investigation?
“Any information whatsoever could help my team to finally solve this murder for Janet’s family.”
Janet’s oldest daughter, Zara Harden, said it was “baffling” why anyone would target their home and her “defenceless” mum.
She said: “Ultimately her killer, or killers, have so far gotten away with it.
“We want to see them prosecuted, and not to have somebody who is extremely dangerous still be out there on the loose, who could commit other crimes and against other women or other people.
“We just want to stop it happening again.”
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The nurse was home alone on April 10, 1995, when her killer stormed in at some point after 8.20pm.
Janet’s husband was working in Switzerland at the time, her two eldest children were at university and her youngest was staying at a friend’s home.
The safety-conscious mum had managed to trigger a panic button in her bedroom before she was handcuffed and gagged.
Janet was then bludgeoned with a blunt instrument, possibly a crowbar, until she died.
Her body was discovered the following morning by the builder and his teenage son.
Janet was naked with her arms still handcuffed behind her back and packing tape over her mouth.
Police discovered nothing had been taken from the home and there was no evidence she had been sexually assaulted.
Officers were left baffled by the killer’s way into the house after they tried to carve out a man-sized hole in a double-glazed patio door using a glass cutter.
The brute eventually gave up and instead just smashed their way through.
Thames Valley Police said they did not believe Janet had disturbed a killer burglar as two cars were parked outside and most raiders tend to strike during the day when it is likely no one is home.
The intruder also spent their time moving around the house and washing the blood off despite an alarm blaring.
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More than 2,000 people were interviewed but without any major leads, the case went cold.
Then on April 11, 1997, another murder took place that once again left homeowners in Buckinghamshire terrified.
Carolanne Jackson, 50, was found tied up in the kitchen of her cottage in Wooburn Green, near High Wycombe.
Like Janet, antique dealer Carolanne had been bludgeoned to death and had her Rolex stolen along with other jewellery.
Police feared the killer may have lay in wait for Carolanne to return home and entered her home while she unloaded the car.
Chillingly, she had contacted officers about a man following her while she was driving and had been burgled the previous year.
A witness also claimed they saw a man acting suspiciously in woodland near Carolanne’s home on the night of the murder.
Police searched the area and found a bag of clothes, towels and a torch but did not know if the items were connected to the horror.
Both Carolanne and Janet’s deaths were linked to Operation Enigma – a huge police investigation into the murders of 207 women.
But no one has ever faced justice for either horror – although a new breakthrough in Janet’s killing could finally solve the 30-year mystery.
Thames Valley Police today revealed they have a DNA profile that could be a “vital piece of evidence linking the killer to the scene”.
Mr Beirne said more than 1,000 people have already been eliminated from their enquiries.
He added: “With the DNA evidence we have we can easily implicate or eliminate people from our investigation.
“Therefore, if you have any suspicions about individuals please contact us and give us their names.
“If you have suspicions, it is very easy for our team to trace and request a DNA sample from the person you suspect, or a relative of theirs if they have perhaps passed away or have emigrated.”
Anyone with information can call police on 101 quoting reference 695 (4/8) or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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