Bernadette Walker: Missing teen case still open despite killer's death

The body of Bernadette Walker has not been found

An investigation into the murder of a teenager whose body has never been found is still open despite her killer's death in prison, police said.

Scott Walker was given a life sentence - with a minimum 32-year jail term - in 2021 after being convicted of murdering his 17-year-old stepdaughter Bernadette Walker, from Peterborough.

The Ministry of Justice said Walker, 53, died in jail on 22 December.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary said the case was open but had "no new leads".

Bernadette went missing in July 2020 after telling her mother Walker had abused her "over a number of years".

Walker was jailed after being found guilty of murder and perverting the course of justice in a trial at Cambridge Crown Court in July 2021.

Bernadette's mother, Sarah Walker, was given a six-year jail sentence after being convicted of perverting the course of justice.

Bernadette's rucksack was found in a lock-up frequently visited by Scott Walker

A police spokeswoman said on Wednesday: "There are no new leads. The situation remains the same. The investigation remains open."

Bernadette's brother, Anthony Walker, had said after sentencing her killer did not "deserve to get out of prison".

Her brother said their stepfather had a history of attacking family members - and the family "kept going to the police".

Cambridgeshire police said after sentencing Walker had had a previous conviction for harassment and had been made the subject of a non-molestation order in relation to a previous partner.

The force said his offending history had not raised safeguarding concerns.

A police watchdog investigated the constabulary's response to Bernadette's disappearance and made recommendations.

Improved training

The Independent Office for Police Conduct said in a statement in September 2021 an investigation "identified potential learning for the force" in several areas.

This included supervision of missing person investigations, improved training for frontline officers about the investigations and guidance for officers on how to handle sexual abuse allegations which come to light in the course of people going missing.

In November 2020, the Ministry of Justice said murderers and paedophiles who held back information on their victims could face longer jail sentences as a result of the Prisoners (Disclosure of Information About Victims) Act 2020 - known commonly as "Helen's Law".

The new law followed campaigning by a woman whose daughter's body has also not been found.

Marie McCourt's 22-year-old daughter Helen was murdered in 1988 after disappearing in St Helens, Merseyside.

Ms McCourt's killer, Ian Simms, who was jailed for her murder, never revealed the location of her body.

He was released in 2020 and died in 2022.

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