Police receive anonymous letter about unsolved murder of Sheffield prostitute

A similar letter was also sent to The Star, with the author of the hand-written note claiming to know who killed Dawn Shields.

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In the letter to The Star, the author states: “Every life matters and murderers should not be allowed to live their lives freely.”

Detectives investigating the unsolved case, which dates back 26 years, are keen to trace the person who penned the letters.

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Dave Stopford, Head of South Yorkshire Police’s Major Incident Review Team, said: “We routinely review unsolved murders along with any new evidence, and I am always keen to hear from anyone with information they may never have previously shared about Dawn’s disappearance to come forward.”

“Any information provided will be dealt with confidentially.”

Dawn was 19 when she was killed after getting picked up in a car in Broomhall – Sheffield’s red light district at the time – on Friday, May 13, 1994.

Her body was found in a shallow grave a week later on the slopes of Mam Tor, Castleton, in the Peak District.

Dawn, a mum-of-one, from Pitsmoor, was found naked and buried in a shallow grave under some rocks by a National Park ranger.

She had head injuries and had been strangled.

Her death is one of two unsolved prostitute murders in Sheffield.

Michaela Hague, 25, was killed seven years later after being picked up from Bower Street, off Corporation Street in the city centre, on Bonfire Night 2001.

She was found slumped on a car park at nearby Spitalfields after being stabbed 19 times in her back and neck.

Possible links between the two cases have been investigated but there is nothing to suggest the same killer was responsible.

Michaela managed to whisper a description of her killer to the first police officers on the scene but nearly 19 years later he has never been identified.

Anyone with information about Dawn’s murder should call 0114 2961399, South Yorkshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.