Final movements of Elsie Frost on October 9, 1965

This map shows the final movements of 14-year-old Elsie Frost before she was murdered 50 years ago.

Today a new appeal for witnesses is being made as police re-open their investigation into the unsolved crime.

Days from the 50th anniversary of Elsie’s death on October 9, 1965, police say they are following new lines of inquiry after the case was reviewed by cold case detectives.

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They have released the map, along with a new image of Elsie, and are urging anybody with information to come forward.

Elsie Frost, died October 1965, aged 14.Elsie Frost, died October 1965, aged 14.
Elsie Frost, died October 1965, aged 14.

Popular schoolgirl Elise Frost was found dead by the ABC steps, near Horbury Lagoon and the Calder and Hebble Canal, on the afternoon of October 9.

She had been stabbed several times.

The map shows the route Elsie is thought to have taken home at around 3.50pm after watching friends sail at Horbury Lagoon.

Police said that while entering a railway tunnel just off the canal towpath, which now leads to Monckton Road, she was attacked from behind and stabbed in the back and twice in the head.

The ABC steps near Horbury lagoon.The ABC steps near Horbury lagoon.
The ABC steps near Horbury lagoon.
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A knife blow also pierced a hand which officers believe she had put up behind her head to defend herself.

Her body was found at the bottom of the ABC steps by a dog walker at around 4.15pm.

A postmortem confirmed that she had suffered stab wounds to her head and body and died from shock and blood loss.

Detectives want to trace a man in a white coat seen riding a bike near the murder scene that day. He was not interviewed at the time.

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The also want to identity somebody Elise could have been seeing in secret - possibly a boyfriend - in the weeks before her death.

Detective chief inspector Elizabeth Belton, who is leading the new investigation, said: “Elsie’s murder may be nearly 50 years old but it is a crime people in Wakefield have never stopped talking about.

“I would ask anyone who can assist us to contact the Major Investigation Review Team on 101 or to contact the independent Crimestoppers charity, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.”

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