Betty death case now consigned to the archives

 

THE suspicious death of a grandmother who was killed while walking from Longtown to Gretna has been archived by police.

On the 16th anniversary of the disappearance and death of Betty Brown, Cumbria Police have confirmed to us that their investigation is still no longer active.

It has been archived and is only ‘subject to periodic reviews’.

Betty, 56, went missing on Friday May 28 2010, and her remains were discovered in woodland near Longtown in January 2011.

However, her body was so badly decomposed, it was impossible to establish a cause of death.

The coroner at the inquest recorded an open verdict but said she was likely the victim of a violent attack with a sexual motive.

A care worker, Mrs Brown had travelled by bus from her home in Edinburgh to Longtown to visit her family in Gretna.

But her daughter, Sarah, was unaware of her planned visit so did not pick her up as usual and so it’s thought Betty set off walking, carrying two shopping bags of belongings.

She never arrived though and was eventually found eight months later in woodland near High Gaitle, close to the A6071 and a disused quarry.

The inquest heard Cumbria Police were concerned about a third party involvement because of where the body was found.

Despite extensive appeals to the public, and an appearance on the Crimewatch TV show, the police have, to this day, been unable to find out what happened to her.