Murder of grandmother bludgeoned to death as she slept at £1.6million mansion sparked the biggest DNA screening in the history of Sussex Police - but as the killer remains at large, what next in the hunt for the 'Midsomer murderer?'

Three years in the past, Valerie Graves was brutally crushed to dying with a claw hammer as she home sat for mates in a sleepy West Sussex village.

What adopted turned the most important manhunt within the historical past of Sussex Police and the biggest DNA search ever carried out in Britain. 

However as Valerie's killer stays at massive, residents have been left what the following steps are within the homicide investigation - and are police any nearer to discovering the person who killed the grandmother?

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Three years in the past, Valerie Graves was brutally murdered, crushed to dying with a claw hammer as she home sat for mates in a sleepy West Sussex village

Ms Graves was killed as she house-sat for mates at their £1.6m mansion in Bosham, West Sussex

On 30 December 2013, mother-of-two Valerie Graves was discovered brutally murdered in a bed room in Smugglers Lane, Bosham.

She had been house-sitting on the property for mates over the Christmas interval and had celebrated her 55th birthday simply days earlier.  

Days afterwards, police discovered the homicide weapon - a claw hammer which had been discarded in close by bushes, alongside a restricted DNA profile. 

They may affirm solely that it was DNA belonging to a male aged between 17-65.   

But regardless of one of many largest investigations Sussex Police has ever carried out and plenty of excessive profile household appeals, Valerie's killer stays at massive.

Police took samples from greater than 2,500 males with a connection to the village - however later confirmed they wished to eradicate one other 2,500 from their inquiries.

In accordance with police detectives, Valerie's physique was found within the morning by her sister Janet Graves, who initally believed the dying to be suicide - however paramedics known as to the home shortly recognized the realm as a criminal offense scene. 

Days afterwards, police discovered the homicide weapon - a claw hammer which had been discarded in close by bushes, alongside a restricted DNA profile

Ms Graves was house-sitting in a property in Smugglers Lane, Bosham, when she was savagely killed in her mattress simply days after celebrating her 55th birthday with household on Christmas Day

Distraught: The siblings had been visibly emotional as Mr Wooden learn out his assertion at a press convention

Valerie - a proficient artist - is pictured along with her kids, though the date the image was taken is unknown

Ms Graves (pictured, date unknown), was a preferred artist, grandmother and mother-of-two

Regardless of one of many largest investigations Sussex Police has ever carried out and plenty of excessive profile household appeals, Valerie's killer stays at massive

Specialists disagree concerning the motive behind the homicide, with some saying it was a failed housebreaking whereas others imagine it was a focused assault.

The village Ms Graves was murdered in - Bosham - is a favorite with ITV drama Midsomer Murders. Bosham featured within the episode, 'Written in Blood'. 

An inquest into Valerie's homicide in June recorded a verdict of illegal killing. 

The inquest heard Valerie's bed room was on the bottom ground and the bed room door was discovered open. 

The room had one exterior door main onto a patio behind the home. 

Valerie was described as somebody who was 'unlikely to offend' and had lately moved from Scotland to Bracklesham Bay to look after her aged mom.

Coroner Penelope Schofield re-issed an enchantment for anybody with data to come back ahead. 

Emotion: The sufferer's son Tim Wooden paid tribute to her in January throughout a press convention following her dying whereas sitting alongside his sister Jemima Harrison 

Law enforcement officials searched the realm surrounding the £1.6million dwelling in Bosham, West Sussex, when Ms Graves was discovered lifeless in 2013. She had suffered extreme head and facial accidents

Specialists disagree concerning the motive behind the homicide, with some saying it was a failed housebreaking whereas others imagine it was a focused assault

Sussex Police launched its largest voluntary mass DNA screening in its historical past asking all males aged over 17 who dwell, work or go to Bosham to offer a DNA pattern to eradicate them from the inquiry. 

To this point detectives from the Surrey and Sussex Main Crime Staff have taken 2,737 DNA samples from males from Bosham or related to the enquiry in another method.

Detective Superintendent Jason Taylor mentioned: 'This investigation stays a precedence for Sussex Police and we are going to do every thing moderately attainable to seek out Valerie's killer and get justice for her and her household. 

'This time of 12 months is especially tough for her household and mates. 

'We're nonetheless providing a £10,00zero reward for data resulting in the arrest and conviction of Valerie's killer and I might ask anybody who has data to contact police.'

An exhaustive and thorough forensic search obtained underway on the property after the homicide in 2013

Mr Wooden mentioned: 'It is arduous to hold on figuring out that somebody is on the market in a position to do it to another person and figuring out that they have not been caught for what they've finished'

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