Police Release CCTV Footage in Hunt for Killer of Grandmother Found Dead in Home
Authorities are appealing for information as they continue to investigate the death of Rose Johnston, who was found with a head injury.
Police have released CCTV footage showing the final known movements of Rose Johnston, a 68-year-old grandmother who was found dead in her Liverpool home with a head injury. The footage captures Ms. Johnston socializing with friends at The Watch Maker pub in Prescot just two days before her body was discovered on October 4 last year.
Ms. Johnston was seen entering the pub, getting a coffee, and then finding a seat among patrons. She left the establishment around 12:40 a.m. on October 3 and took a taxi home. She was discovered deceased at her residence on Ancroft Road in Dovecot later that day, at approximately 12:35 p.m. The grandmother was found wearing the same clothing she had worn in the pub footage.
Friends and family described Ms. Johnston as having been in good spirits, enjoying her time socializing. The family has expressed their ongoing pain and desperation for answers one year after her death, describing the manner of her passing as "senseless and devastating." They characterized her as an "honest, hardworking woman whose caring nature was felt by every person she met," and noted that she should have been looking forward to more years with her family and grandchildren.
In August, on what would have been Ms. Johnston's 69th birthday, her family remembered her as a "kind, caring and compassionate" mother and grandmother. They shared that the loss has had a constant impact and that occasions like birthdays are difficult "firsts" without her. They recalled her love for simple pleasures like walks on the beach, visiting markets, and enjoying fish and chips, activities that have now been "brutally snatched away."
Detective Chief Inspector Catherine Walsh stated that the family is "absolutely devastated by the loss and deserve to get answers." She confirmed that extensive inquiries, including house-to-house investigations, CCTV analysis, forensic examination, and witness interviews, have been conducted over the past year. Two men have been arrested in connection with the murder and are currently on conditional police bail. Investigators are actively pursuing all lines of inquiry to identify and bring those responsible to justice.
Independent charity Crimestoppers has offered a reward of up to £20,000 for information exclusively received by them that leads to the arrest of those responsible for the murder.