IT was a crime which shocked Suffolk. On November 21, 1993, young mum Karen Hales was brutally stabbed to death in her Lavenham Road home before her body was set alight.

IT was a crime which shocked Suffolk.

On November 21, 1993, young mum Karen Hales was brutally stabbed to death in her Lavenham Road home before her body was set alight.

The horrifying murder, which took place in front of Karen's 18-month-old daughter, remains unsolved.

Fifteen years on, the Hales family are again reliving the ordeal of that fateful Autumn day - and again clinging to the hope that the perpetrator will eventually be brought to justice.

But while the investigation into the 21-year-old's murder remains officially open, the trail has run cold.

Today, Karen's mum Geraldine Hales told of her family's continued torment at not knowing why their beloved daughter was so cruelly taken from them.

“We have no answers,” said Mrs Hales. “If she had died in a fire or a car accident we would have had some reason.

“But we don't know why and that's the hardest part. We are baffled. To have had some closure would have made a big difference.

“We are still terribly sad and hurt by it all and we miss her - that would have still been the case no matter what.

“But if we had been able to have an answer as to why this happened, it may have helped.”

Karen's sister Angela Cates added: “As the time goes on, we get on with our lives but one day we hope we will get that call.”

Mrs Hales still believes somebody has the crucial information which could crack the case but is refusing to speak to police.

“We still believe that somebody knows something and they are not coming forward,” she said.

Karen's daughter, Emily, is now 16 and has left school.

Mrs Hales said: “She's similar to her mum - she loves the smell of diesel like Karen used to.

“Emily can't remember Karen. She only really knows her from our conversations.”

She added: “Karen will never be forgotten.”

Do you have a message of support for the Hales family? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

Anyone with information on the murder should call Suffolk police on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

POLICE today vowed to continue the probe into the murder of Karen Hales.

Detective superintendent Andy Henwood said: “It's one of those cases which we are constantly looking at and reviewing with a view to any positive leads we can follow.

“The case remains open and we will investigate any new lines of enquiry.

“Our cold case review team are looking at outstanding cases with a view to any forensic evidence which might become available.

“But we get to a point where we have followed as many lines of enquiry as we can.

“I'm pretty confident we will get one or two lines of enquiry from the anniversary appearing in The Evening Star and we will pursue those.

“I would like to think if the perpetrator is there to find, we will find him.”