Police fear Jo Yeates's killer is being shielded by a close friend or partner who is too scared to turn them in.
Officers appealed to anyone harbouring the murderer to come forward.
Her family's anguish is being made worse by not knowing who strangled the 25-year-old in Bristol.
A police source said: "The killer may have let slip something to a partner or friend. The worry is this person may be scared to raise the subject."
But police last night appealed to anyone who may be covering for the murderer to put the anguish aside and hand them over.
Detectives believe the killer may have let slip their terrible secret or be acting unusually after strangling 25-year-old architect Jo and dumping her body in the snow.
A police source said: “The pressure on the killer to keep this murder a secret is immense.
DENIAL
“He may have already let something slip to a partner or trusted friend and his behaviour may have changed.
“The worry is that anyone who may have noticed this may be in denial or that they could be scared to raise the subject because they don’t want to accept the killer is someone they know well.
“It is not that unusual to find people shielding killers.
“It is quite possible that the person who murdered Jo has been behaving oddly and that has not been passed on to the team.
“The killer may also have insisted they are innocent and begged for help in getting eliminated.
“Often close friends or relatives simply cannot believe this person could be guilty and agree to give them an alibi. Even a few minutes can make all the difference.”
Each day that goes by without finding Jo’s killer only deepens the agony of her distraught family, who are desperate for justice.
In the four weeks since she was strangled after returning to her flat in Bristol from drinks with work colleagues, police hunting the killer have received hundreds of calls.
But they believe the key to unlocking the mystery lies with a friend or relative who knows the murderer’s identity.
One detective told how killers can manipulate other people’s recollections of events to their advantage when friends or relatives have grown suspicious. The officer said: “They can be cunning and say, ‘Do you remember what time I got home...? No it was earlier’.”
Jo was found dumped in thick snow on Christmas Day in a quiet lane near a quarry three miles from the home she shared with boyfriend Greg Reardon, 27. He was away at the time. The last person to speak to her was best pal Rebecca Scott, 25. They chatted on the phone as Jo walked home from the pub.
The marine biology student pleaded: “You might have noticed a friend or family member acting suspiciously.
“Report that to the police. I’m sure if that was your friend lying there on Christmas Day you would want others to do the same.”
Officers were yesterday searching a second area near to where Jo’s body was dumped. They were seen combing undergrowth in Providence Lane.
STRANGE
Retired electrician Jeffrey Hurley, 80, lives in the lane. He said “It must be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
“I find it strange the killer hid the body so close to the road. He could have hidden it in several disused quarries nearby and it wouldn’t have been found for years.”
Eighty officers are working around the clock on the case. Avon and Somerset Police said: “We are still appealing for information.”
But detectives believe Jo’s killer is still in Britain.
One said: “We have not made inquiries abroad.”
Read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/01/15/jo-yeates-murder-cops-fear-killer-may-be-being-shielded-by-a-friend-115875-22850017/#ixzz1B6lsLGF3
Officers appealed to anyone harbouring the murderer to come forward.
Her family's anguish is being made worse by not knowing who strangled the 25-year-old in Bristol.
A police source said: "The killer may have let slip something to a partner or friend. The worry is this person may be scared to raise the subject."
But police last night appealed to anyone who may be covering for the murderer to put the anguish aside and hand them over.
Detectives believe the killer may have let slip their terrible secret or be acting unusually after strangling 25-year-old architect Jo and dumping her body in the snow.
A police source said: “The pressure on the killer to keep this murder a secret is immense.
DENIAL
“He may have already let something slip to a partner or trusted friend and his behaviour may have changed.
“The worry is that anyone who may have noticed this may be in denial or that they could be scared to raise the subject because they don’t want to accept the killer is someone they know well.
“It is not that unusual to find people shielding killers.
“It is quite possible that the person who murdered Jo has been behaving oddly and that has not been passed on to the team.
“The killer may also have insisted they are innocent and begged for help in getting eliminated.
“Often close friends or relatives simply cannot believe this person could be guilty and agree to give them an alibi. Even a few minutes can make all the difference.”
Advertisement - article continues below »
In the four weeks since she was strangled after returning to her flat in Bristol from drinks with work colleagues, police hunting the killer have received hundreds of calls.
But they believe the key to unlocking the mystery lies with a friend or relative who knows the murderer’s identity.
One detective told how killers can manipulate other people’s recollections of events to their advantage when friends or relatives have grown suspicious. The officer said: “They can be cunning and say, ‘Do you remember what time I got home...? No it was earlier’.”
Jo was found dumped in thick snow on Christmas Day in a quiet lane near a quarry three miles from the home she shared with boyfriend Greg Reardon, 27. He was away at the time. The last person to speak to her was best pal Rebecca Scott, 25. They chatted on the phone as Jo walked home from the pub.
The marine biology student pleaded: “You might have noticed a friend or family member acting suspiciously.
“Report that to the police. I’m sure if that was your friend lying there on Christmas Day you would want others to do the same.”
Officers were yesterday searching a second area near to where Jo’s body was dumped. They were seen combing undergrowth in Providence Lane.
STRANGE
Retired electrician Jeffrey Hurley, 80, lives in the lane. He said “It must be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
“I find it strange the killer hid the body so close to the road. He could have hidden it in several disused quarries nearby and it wouldn’t have been found for years.”
Eighty officers are working around the clock on the case. Avon and Somerset Police said: “We are still appealing for information.”
But detectives believe Jo’s killer is still in Britain.
One said: “We have not made inquiries abroad.”
Read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/01/15/jo-yeates-murder-cops-fear-killer-may-be-being-shielded-by-a-friend-115875-22850017/#ixzz1B6lsLGF3
