Man re-arrested over murder of South Yorkshire gran Nora Tait 20 years ago
The 69-year-old was murdered at her home in 2005
A man has been re-arrested on suspicion of murder as part of an ongoing investigation into the unsolved killing of Doncaster gran Nora Tait more than 20 years ago.
Last October, on the 20th anniversary of Nora's death, South Yorkshire Police appealed for information in relation to her murder after the 69-year-old was killed in her home in Stone Close Avenue, Hexthorpe.
After new information was obtained following that appeal, a 57-year-old man from Doncaster has been re-arrested on suspicion of her murder.
Detective Chief Inspector Ben Wood, who is the senior investigating officer for this case, is continuing to urge anyone with information that could help them find Nora's killer to get in touch with them so they can secure justice on behalf of Nora and her family.
He said: "Our drive throughout this long-running investigation has been to give Nora's family the answers they need after decades of hurt.
"Nora's family have been informed of this latest development and we remain in contact with them as we seek to give them the solace they deserve.
"Someone knows what happened to Nora and we believe those answers lie in the local community in and around Stone Close Avenue in Hexthorpe.
"If you know something and you are keeping it to yourself, I urge you to think of the pain this is causing Nora's family and loved ones.
"Even the smallest piece of information might prove to be a really important piece of the jigsaw and could help us secure that all-important justice after all these years.
"Do it for Nora, and do it for her family to help give them the closure they so desperately need."
Nora was found dead at her home on October 13, 2005 and is believed to have been killed the day before.
Despite a £10,000 Crimestoppers reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer offered, nobody was ever charged.
Mrs Tait, a former seamstress, was assaulted with such ferocity that she had severe fractures to her skull, caused by a number of blows to the back of her head.
Her purse, believed to have contained a small amount of cash, was missing when her home was searched following the discovery of her body.
Fish and chips the OAP had bought for her lunch the day before her body was found lay untouched, helping detectives pinpoint when she was killed.
On the tenth anniversary of Mrs Tait’s murder, her daughter, Jayne Watson, said: “To us it feels like we received the news yesterday. Hearing that your mother has been viciously attacked in her own home, in broad daylight, is the kind of news that stays with you and never fades with time.”
She branded the killer ‘evil’ and ‘cowardly’.
To mark that anniversary, she added: “Every anniversary we pray that this year we’ll hear the news that someone has come forward with a vital piece of information, that someone will be brought to justice and we can have some closure.”
How to report information to police
Anyone with information can get in direct contact with the investigative team through the dedicated Major Incident Public Portal.
You can also call police on 101, quoting incident number 199 of October 8, 2025.
You can also report information anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.