Is a predatory killer stalking NHS departments? Police warn killer could ‘strike again’ after grandmother, 75, bled to death in her hospital bed following sexual assault
- Valerie Kneale, 75, had bled to death from assault, possibly sexual
- The grandmother was sitting up talking at Blackpool Victoria Hospital
A grandmother who died while recovering from a stroke in hospital may have been killed by a predator that could strike again, police warned.
Valerie Kneale, 75, sat up talking when relatives visited her at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.
Her adult children wanted to sleep with her, but doctors said that was not necessary.
However, she then suffered a devastating second stroke and never regained consciousness.
After a post-mortem examination, it was discovered that she had bled to death as a result of beatings, possibly sexual.
Valerie Kneale, 75, died while recovering from a stroke in hospital, possibly killed by a predator that could strike again, police warned
Despite detectives questioning thousands of people – including ward staff, patients and visitors – no one has been charged with the murder. Now a £20,000 reward has been offered to catch her killer.
Detective Chief Inspector Jill Johnston, of Lancashire Police, said: ‘This may be at the hands of someone who is a predator who may have committed previous attacks of this nature and may continue to do so.’
Ms Kneale, who lives in Knott End-on-Sea, Lancashire with husband Bill, was taken to hospital on 12 November 2018 after falling ill. Her niece Lisa Jaffier told Crimewatch Live, “She sat up, she communicated.
‘It was clear that she would have difficulties in her recovery, but we were all hopeful for a positive result. Her kids wanted to stay with her that night, but the hospital said she was really in the best place she could be, that’s really not necessary, she’ll be fine.”
However, Ms Kneale took a turn for the worse – doctors said she would not recover and the family agreed to stop treatment.
She died on November 16. But at a routine autopsy, a pathologist found she suffered a horrific internal injury and told police. An inquest heard that the pathologist ‘felt’ Ms Kneale’s injury was ’caused by a violent assault after she was hospitalized’.
Ms Jaffier added: ‘To think that someone did that to a nice person at a time when she was helpless, at her most vulnerable, where she couldn’t scream, she couldn’t defend herself… We are left with a huge wound who can’t even begin to heal until we find out who’s responsible so we can get justice.’
No CCTV and reduced forensic capabilities due to a gap before the alarm sounded were challenges, DCI Johnston said.
Valerie Kneale, 75, sat up talking when relatives visited her at Blackpool Victoria Hospital
She added: ‘The fact that this happened in a hospital setting is of great concern to everyone and we have worked tirelessly with the hospital to get justice for Ms Kneale and her family, but also to prevent this from ever happening again. ‘
A healthcare professional who was arrested in 2021 on suspicion of murder was later removed from the investigation.
The independent charity Crimestoppers announced the reward for any information leading to the conviction of her killer.
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said it was ‘fully cooperating’ with the investigation and its thoughts are with Ms Kneale’s family. No other deaths currently under investigation have been linked to Ms Kneale’s, police confirmed.