Case overview
Janet Chandler was last seen leaving a pub in Preston, England, on June 15, 1996, hours before her body was discovered in the River Ribble. A man was convicted of manslaughter in 2003, but authorities continue to seek her actual killer three decades later.
The last confirmed sighting
On the night of June 15, 1996, Janet Chandler was captured on CCTV leaving the Adelphi pub in Preston. The footage showed her walking alone in the direction of her home during the early hours.
Her body was found in the River Ribble the following day. The discovery launched a homicide investigation that would produce a conviction seven years later, but fail to resolve the central question of who killed her.
The investigation and trial
In 2003, Andrew Greenwood, then 29, of Sephton Street, Lostock Hall, stood trial for Janet’s murder. He was found not guilty of murder but convicted of manslaughter. The verdict reflected a jury determination that fell short of establishing the intent or premeditation required for a murder conviction.
Lancashire Police maintained that the person responsible for Janet’s death had not been conclusively identified. Investigators have repeatedly emphasized that someone encountered Janet on her route home and attacked her. The manslaughter conviction did not close the case.
The family’s position
Janet’s mother has publicly stated her belief that the person responsible for her daughter’s death should be held fully accountable. On the 30th anniversary of the murder in 2026, she renewed her appeal, saying “this man needs putting away.”
The family has described Janet as their only child. Her mother has stated that someone saw Janet on her journey home and, for reasons still unknown, attacked and killed her. The absence of a definitive resolution has left the family without closure for three decades.
The renewed appeal
Lancashire Police issued a renewed public appeal for information in June 2026, marking 30 years since Janet’s body was recovered. The appeal emphasized that the investigation remains active and that detectives continue to seek witnesses or individuals with knowledge of the events that night.
Cold case investigators have employed memory prompts tied to the timing of Janet’s death. The murder occurred during the Euro ’96 football tournament, a major cultural event in England. Authorities have asked the public to recall their activities and whereabouts during that period, hoping the association might trigger recollections relevant to the case.
The CCTV footage from the Adelphi pub remains a critical piece of evidence. It provides a timeline and confirms Janet’s movements up to a point, but the period between her departure and the discovery of her body remains under scrutiny.
What remains unresolved
The central gap in the case is the identity of the person who killed Janet Chandler. The manslaughter conviction of Andrew Greenwood did not satisfy investigators or the victim’s family that justice had been fully served. Lancashire Police have not publicly identified Greenwood as the person they believe murdered Janet, and they continue to seek information about others who may have been involved or who witnessed events that night.
The nature of the attack, the motive, and whether Janet knew her attacker remain part of the active investigation. Authorities have not disclosed specific forensic evidence or witness testimony that might clarify these points, but they have maintained that the case is solvable with the right information.
Janet’s final movements between leaving the pub and the discovery of her body in the river represent the most critical investigative window. The lack of additional witnesses or evidence from that time has sustained the uncertainty surrounding her death.
Where to look next
- Documentary: “Unsolved: The Body in the River” (Investigation Discovery)
- Podcast: “Cold Case Files” (A&E Networks)
- Documentary: “Britain’s Darkest Taboos” (Crime + Investigation UK)
