Innocent Karen Reed was shot dead at her doorstep - and 30 years on, her murder remains unsolved.
Police have today issued a fresh appeal in the cold case in what they believe was a contract killing, but with the wrong target. They say Karen, 33, had no involvement in criminal activity and believe the murder is a case of mistaken identity.
She was killed at her home in Woking, Surrey on April 30, 1994, by a mystery man disguised as a delivery driver. She was shot at five times at close range. A murder probe was immediately launched, with officers following thousands of lines of enquiry which reached out into Essex, Hertfordshire and London.
But three decades on, Karen's killer remains at large. Surrey Police say they are "determined" to solve what happened as they issue a new appeal ahead of tomorrow's anniversary.
An artist's impression of the suspect (HNP Newsdesk/Hyde News & Pictures Ltd)
Police found a black bag with a knife inside (HNP Newsdesk/Hyde News & Pictures Ltd)Det Chief Insp Gareth Hicks, the senior investigating officer in Karen's case, said: "Even though 30 years have passed since the murder of Karen Reed, we remain determined to find those responsible for her death. Somebody out there knows who killed her - whether it's the individual who pulled the trigger, or those who were assigned to arrange this contract killing and we urge them to come forward so that justice is done for Karen and her family and friends.
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"Karen was an innocent young woman who was loved by those who knew her. She had absolutely no involvement in criminal activity, and we have always believed that this murder was a case of mistaken identity and a contract killing which went wrong."
Karen was at her home in Willow Way on The Barnsbury Estate around 9.15pm when she answered the door to the man she believed to be a pizza delivery driver. The man, described as tall, dark-haired, wearing glasses and holding a blue and white pizza box, asked her to confirm the address, which she did before she was shot at.
An ambulance was called but Karen sadly died at the scene. The murder probe followed 3,000 lines of enquiry and obtained 1,700 statements. Two weeks prior to Karen’s murder, officers had pursued a car acting suspiciously in the Woking area.
The driver of the red Vauxhall Cavalier decamped the vehicle and ran off. On further inspection of the vehicle, officers found an automatic pistol fitted with a silencer as well as a marked map to The Barnsbury Estate.
As well as this, they found a large black-handled commando knife in a black leather sheath, a black Delsey Bag plus a rare Olney blue tartan cap. Investigating officers believe that this was the driver's first attempt at carrying out the assassination.
The murder, known as Operation Lilac, was featured on Crimewatch in March 2021. Surrey Police now say they are still committed to cracking the case.
Det Chief Insp Hicks added: "It's time for the people who now what happened to do the right thing and come forward to help us." Anyone with information should upload it to the force's Major Incident Public Portal online.
You can also contact Surrey Police via webchat or by calling 101. Alternatively, people can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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