Quest for justice continues 25 years after murder of Sheffield mum and sex worker stabbed to death by punter
The case has baffled detectives for 25 years
Friends and relatives of a Sheffield mum and sex worker who was stabbed to death in Sheffield are still waiting to discover who killed the beloved young woman - 25 years after the knife attack.
Michaela Hague was 25 when she was stabbed on Bonfire Night 2001.
She was seen being picked up by a man, believed to have been a punter, in Bower Street in the city centre and was then driven to an isolated car park on nearby Spitalfields, off Nursery Street.
It was there that tragedy struck.
Michaela was stabbed 19 times in a frenzied attack and was found slumped on the ground by a fellow sex worker, who described the car she had seen leaving the scene as a blue old-style Ford Sierra.
The alarm was raised and the first police officer on the scene managed to speak to Michaela, who passed on vital information about her attacker.
She described him as white and clean-shaven. She also said he wore a wedding ring and explained where he had picked her up from.
Michaela told the officer that the attacker was around 38-year-old, about 6ft and was wearing a blue fleece and glasses.
Tragically, Michaela, described as a “lovely and beautiful daughter” by her heartbroken parents following the fatal stabbing, was rushed to hospital but could not be saved.
Her death triggered a murder investigation which is believed to be the largest ever undertaken by South Yorkshire Police.
It took officers across the length and breadth of the country as police officers attempted to track down the owner of every Ford Sierra matching the description of the killer’s car.
In 2006, detectives revealed that they had followed up 10,500 lines of inquiry, interviewed 7,400 people and eliminated 3,662 owners or drivers of Ford Sierras at that point.
Former punters and sex workers were interviewed.
E-fits of Michaela's killer were circulated nationally and screened on the BBC's Crimewatch programme, but to no avail.
Although arrests have been made as part of the investigation, no charges have ever been brought.
In 2024, someone with suspicions about who the killer may be contacted South Yorkshire Police.
It is understood that the man whose name was put forward was spoken to at his home shortly after Michaela’s murder and that he gave an alibi.
It was suggested to South Yorkshire Police that the alibi may have been false.
Ahead of the 25th anniversary of Michaela’s murder, Dave Stopford, head of SYP’s major incident review team, said: "Michaela and her loved ones remain in all of our minds as we approach the 25th anniversary of her murder.
"Michaela was a young woman who had her life taken in the cruelest of circumstances, leaving a grieving family facing the unimaginable pain of knowing they would never get to see her again.
"We continue to remain committed to exploring any new lines of enquiry to provide answers for her loved ones and bring those responsible for her death to justice.
"We allocate resources to investigate new information accordingly and take all lines of enquiry seriously.
“We want to thank those who have previously contacted us with information about Michaela's death and would urge anyone who may be able to help with our enquiries, but is yet to come forward.”
The coroner who carried out an inquest into Michaela's death said at the time that he hoped advances in DNA would eventually help cops crack the case.
Recording a verdict that Michaela was unlawfully killed, Christopher Dorries said: "As science and technology improves every day the evidence to identify Ms Hague's killer will very likely become apparent.”
Anyone with information about the murder should call South Yorkshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.