POLICE TO CONTACT ALL CULT MEMBERS

Source : 06/08/1994 Northampton Chronicle and Echo

Murdered religious cult member Julie Clayton may have been on her way to visit other members of her group when she was beaten to death by her killer, detectives said.

Officers leading the nationwide enquiry believe the Australian Jesus Fellowship follower, who lived in a commune in Pattishall, near Towcester for seven years, could have been en route to see other members in Lincoln.

Det Supt George Patterson, who is leading the hunt, has appealed for any Jesus Fellowship followers in the Lincoln area to ask themselves whether Julie may have been on her way to them and to get in touch.

He said: 'We know there are about 50 members who live in the area and it's part of our inquiry to contact them all.'

Julie, 27, left the Festal grange commune at Pattishall a month before her badly beaten body was found in a ditch at Coleby, near Lincoln.

Commune leader and friend John Campbell recognised a computer-enhanced picture of Julie in the national press and called the police.

Detectives are still trying to trace her last movements and have now widened their enquiry to Cornwall, London and the A1 north-bound.

Dept Supt Patterson said the long delay in identifying Julie's body had hampered the search for her killer.

He added: 'We are making gradual progress in tracing her last movements but we still urgently need to hear from everyone who may think they have seen Julie, both in St Austell and the Leicester Square area and then hitch-hiking north, possibly on the A1.'

Officers have also appeared on Central TV's Crime Stalker programme to appeal for information.

Anyone who can help should contact them. A £5,000 Community Action Trust reward is on offer for any information leading to arrest and conviction.