A BELOVED grandma was bludgeoned to death in her own home exactly two decades ago – but her mystery killer is still at large.
Nora Tait, 69, was murdered by a vicious attacker on October 12, 2005 – with her heartbroken family now issuing yet another desperate plea.
Nora Tait was murdered 20 years ago today[/caption]
Her unsolved murder haunts loved ones and police two decades on[/caption]
The corpse of the “caring, doting and loving grandmother” was discovered by a close pal the day after the depraved attack.
They made the ghastly discovery in Nora’s Doncaster home on Stone Close Avenue – with her untouched fish and chips going stale on the dining table.
The weapon used to attack Nora has never been found by authorities.
And the only item taken from her home after the twisted murder was a black leather purse.
On the 20th anniversary of her death, Nora’s daughter Jayne has made a heartwrenching plea for her mum’s killer to come forward.
Jayne said: “We want some answers. We want justice for our mum.”
Returning to the scene of the horrific killing on Sunday, she told South Yorkshire Police: “It feels quite emotional to be back after all this time.
“My mum wasn’t in a place she shouldn’t have been.
“She was in her own home and somewhere she should have been safe.”
The devastated daughter continued: “You don’t expect your parent to be taken in such a horrific way. It was so undeserved and brutal.”
Issuing a desperate call for answers, she said: “If someone does know something, please just report it to police and give our family the closure we need.
“I think we deserve it, and my mum definitely deserves it.”
The case has continued to baffle detectives, with the main shred of evidence helping them being the untouched chippy dinner.
The uneaten food allowed police to narrow down the time-frame for when the monstrous attack took place.
South Yorkshire Police have arrested a number of people in connection to Nora’s death in the 20 years following her death.
Crimestoppers has even previously offered a £20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer.
Her killer was never found, nor the weapon used to murder her[/caption]
Nora was a ‘loving grandmother’[/caption]
But to this day, cops haven’t been able to put anyone behind bars guilty of carrying out the sick attack.
Nora was beaten with such intensity that she suffered severe fractures to her skull.
These were caused by a number of blows to the back of her head.
During an inquest in 2013, authorities concluded her death was the result of an unlawful killing.
Doncaster Coroners’ Court also heard how Nora bravely fought off the attacker.
But she tragically succumbed to her injuries, despite her courageous effort.
Authorities also concluded that there was nothing to suggest anyone held any personal grievances Nora.
Office manager Ray Turnbull, who was the detective inspector for the puzzling case, said: “It was the murder that sticks in your mind because it’s a 69-year-old woman who was murdered in the most brutal way in her own home.
“She was just a normal lady going about her normal business and then her life was cut short by this violent and horrific attack.”
He added: “I’m driven by the fact that this murder needs detecting so Nora’s family can seek some solace from knowing who’s done it and that justice has been served.”
On the day of her death, Nora was seen travelling to hospital before going into Doncaster town centre to do some shopping.
Nora’s family made several pleas for information over the years[/caption]
Her daughter Jayne made a heartbreaking plea on Sunday[/caption]
She then got the bus back to her home in Hexthorpe – but stopped off at Lucky Mei takeaway on the journey back to pick up a fish and chips.
In October 2015, detectives working on the case said they were keen to speak to a man who had phoned police in March of that year.
They said the man claimed to have information which could help them solve the case.
Despite the optimistic news, the caller never left any details and failed to call back.
South Yorkshire Police also received a Christmas card in 2009, with a twisted message written inside.
The bizarre letter read: “To the Nora Tait murder inquiry team, keep up the good work.
“I might know a little something or nothing, I will be back in touch after Christmas.”
But much like the last tip – it never materialised into anything useful.
Cops have also made several calls for a man known as “knock off lad” to come forward throughout the two decades after Nora’s death.
Authorities described him as a white male, between 5’5 and 5’8 ft tall, with a medium build.
He is estimated to be aged between 20 and 30 at the time of Nora’s harrowing death.
In the months around the brutal killing, “knock-off lad” was said to be selling door-to-door food items including cheese, tea and coffee in the area close to Nora’s home.
The man was believed to have short brown hair, was clean shaven and had a clear complexion.
He reportedly wore a long khaki-coloured Parker-style coat, was known to smoke roll-up cigarettes, and spoke in a Yorkshire accent.
