Family’s emotional new appeal on fifth anniversary of murder of Shane Fox

“If I only could see Shane again, I would hug him and never let him go. I would tell him how much I love him. If my son was still here, I could be happy again.”

On the fifth anniversary of the murder of Shane Fox in Wellingborough, his grieving parents are making an emotional new appeal for those with information about his death to come forward.

Shane, aged 26, died shortly after 2am on December 1, 2018, after he was stabbed in the chest near his home in Nest Farm Crescent as he walked through the Hemmingwell estate with his brother after a night out.

Today, Friday, December 1, Shane’s mum Caroline and dad Ian are making a fresh plea to anyone with information about what happened to their son to come forward.

Caroline said: “We need people to remember. As time goes by we do fear we might never get answers, but we try to stay hopeful that someone will do the right thing.

“Someone knows something, they are just keeping their mouth shut and that’s not right because our son has lost his life.

“However small you think what you know is, it’s not nothing. Please let the police know, anything that might help is worth them knowing and following up.”

Ian added: “Knowing that the person has been caught and held responsible for what they have done to Shane is so important to our family. We are in limbo until that happens, we’re constantly hurting, and that person is still walking around free.”

Shane’s brother was also injured in the attack and has been devastated by the loss of his brother, with the pair having become increasingly close in the months before the murder.

Ian said: “It has been bad enough for us and our daughter, but it has been hell for him because he was there. He told me afterwards how he tried to stop the bleeding to save Shane, which is an image I can’t forget.”

In the months following Shane’s murder, Northamptonshire Police made four arrests in connection with the investigation, and a further two in the summer of 2022, but charges have yet to be brought against anyone.

In May 2019 independent charity Crimestoppers offered £10,000 for information leading to the conviction of his killer – a reward that in June last year was doubled to £20,000.

Senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Adam Pendlebury of the Major Crime team at the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU), stresses how important new information is to their work.

He explained: “Our investigation into Shane’s murder will remain open until we get to the truth, but we really need people to come forward and tell us what they know.

“There is still a potential witness we are seeking to trace, who was captured on CCTV walking past the Well Café near Nest Farm Crescent at about 1.55am. If that was you, please call us - the smallest piece of information you have could be the key that helps us to catch a dangerous offender.”

Seeing Shane’s killer brought to justice is the hope that keeps the Fox family going.

Ian said: “If you know who is responsible or are not opening up about what you know because you are scared, please think of what our family is going through every day.”

“Our entire lives have changed in the years since Shane died,” added Caroline. “Every day, waking up and realising again that he’s not here, is horrendous.

“We’re asking people to think how they would feel if this happened to them, to their son and their family, and to come forward with what they know.

“We will probably never know the why, but for the police to find the person responsible for Shane’s murder and bring them to court for punishment would mean some closure for us, and justice for Shane.”

If you have information about Shane’s murder, contact Northamptonshire Police on 101, or contact independent charity Crimestoppers completely anonymously by calling 0800 555111 or visiting their website. Only information submitted directly to Crimestoppers will qualify for any reward.

Information can also be submitted to detectives at https://mipp.police.uk/operation/33EM18D50-PO1

Please quote incident number 18000581239 when getting in touch to ensure your information reaches the right person as quickly as possible.

Further information on the investigation into Shane’s murder

Shane returned to Nest Farm Crescent at about 2am on December 1, 2018, having come from the direction of Nest Farm Road across a grassed area and footpath leading to the flats where he lived. He was attacked near the car park there, suffering a stab wound to the chest which sadly proved fatal.

The suspect in his murder is described as a black male in his 20s, with short hair. He was wearing a dark coloured puffer-style jacket with horizontal stitching.

CCTV enquiries revealed a possible witness in the area at the time of the attack, who was seen walking past the Well Café near Nest Farm Crescent at about 1.55am on December 2. Officers are yet to identify this person and continue to appeal for them to come forwards.

At about 9pm the evening before the murder, Friday, November 30, 2018, a man was seen outside Shane’s home in Nest Farm Crescent who appeared to be shouting towards the address. Officers believe this man could have useful information and have previously appealed to trace him as a potential witness. He is described as a white man, about 5ft 7in to 5ft 8in, of slim build and with a bald head, and wore a blue short-sleeved T-shirt and dark blue jeans.

Detectives have so far made six arrests in connection with Shane’s murder, in 2018, 2019 and 2022.

No further action has been taken against any of the men arrested in connection with the investigation.