In 2026, Merseyside Police detectives renewed an appeal for information and highlighted an independent £20,000 reward to mark what would have been the 69th birthday of Liverpool murder victim Rose Johnston.
Rose was discovered deceased inside her residential property on Ancroft Road in Dovecot at approximately 12:35 PM on Saturday 4 October 2025. Following emergency service attendance, a post-mortem examination confirmed that she had been subjected to a violent physical assault, suffering catastrophic blunt force trauma to the head.
Over the past ten months, the Major Incident Team has conducted extensive investigative work, encompassing forensic analysis, neighborhood house-to-house inquiries, and detailed CCTV examinations. A 37-year-old man previously arrested on suspicion of Rose’s murder remains on conditional bail while inquiries proceed.
The independent charity Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information provided exclusively to the charity that leads to the arrest of the individual or individuals responsible for her death.
Detective Chief Inspector Catherine Walsh of Merseyside Police said:
“Our investigation into Rose’s murder remains ongoing. This is a complex investigation, but we have carried out a significant number of enquiries and continue to respond to any new information we receive. The past 10 months have been exceptionally difficult for Rose’s family but they are fully supportive of the work of the investigation team and we are determined to get the answers they deserve. We still believe that the answers lie within the local community and that there are people out there who have information which, for whatever reason, they have chosen not to share. I would simply say – please do the right thing and come forward. If you don’t want to speak to the police then pass on the information anonymously to Crimestoppers. The person responsible for Rose’s murder does not deserve to be walking the streets and should be behind bars.”
Marking her 69th birthday, Rose’s family issued a statement describing the enduring grief and void caused by her death:
“It’s Mum’s birthday this week, the first since her murder, and one of many firsts this past 10 months. The impact the loss of my mum has had is a constant source of pain for our whole family. Knowing my mum would likely been arranging a break in a caravan to celebrate her birthday with her beloved sister or even a couple of nights in a hotel in Southport. Mum loved nothing more than the chance to take a walk along the beach or prom, go to the market or maybe go to one of her favourite chippies in Rhos-on-sea. Mum would have had my cousins helping to plan and arrange a lovely day for us all, but now I won’t get the opportunity to take my mum out for tea and spoil her. Those little things that we enjoyed as a family have been brutally snatched away from her and us. As a family we are still in a state of shock and disbelief as to why this has happened to my beautiful mum… I’m appealing directly to those of you who might have any information, no matter how small or trivial you might think it may be to please come forward.”
Merseyside Police are appealing directly to residents of Dovecot and the wider Liverpool area who possess information or private CCTV recordings to make contact.
Information and footage can be submitted to Merseyside Police via the Major Incident Public Portal, on social media desks @MerPolCC on X and Facebook, or by dialling 101 quoting incident reference 25000817218.
To qualify for the reward and remain completely anonymous, information must be passed directly to Crimestoppers by calling freephone 0800 555 111 or by submitting a report online at crimestoppers-uk.org.
Image – Victim Appeal Photograph
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