The unsolved murder of forces teenager Christina Menzies

It has been 30 years since the murder of a forces teenager in Germany.

Christina Menzies, whose father was a British Army staff sergeant based in Bielefeld, was found dead six miles from RAF Guttersloh. 

But three decades later, the case remains unsolved.

Body discovery

Christina had just turned 16 and had everything to live for, according to mum Christine: "She wanted to be either a journalist or a social worker. She really was happy working with people."

The teenager had been for a night out at the air base's Club 47 disco and shortly after midnight on Sunday 13 June 1993, she was spotted leaving the back of the club.

More than 16 hours later, Christina's body was discovered 10km away at an isolated spot in Spexard, close to the A2 autobahn.

An eyewitness, Walter Roggenkamp, remembered an elderly neighbour telling him there was someone lying there.

Speaking in 2018, he said: "The old man told me it looked like a woman.

"Then I phoned the police. You could tell straight away that she was dead," he added.

A forensic pathologist confirmed that Christina had been killed at the scene.

Fresh appeal

The Royal Military Police launched a major inquiry and worked closely with German police, with extensive searches and appeals.

More than 300 people, including service personnel and their families, were interviewed.

A soldier was acquitted of Christina's murder at a court martial in 1994, but the inquiry into her death, named Operation Gemini, remains open.

In 2017, her parents John and Christine Menzies, along with the Royal Military Police, launched a fresh appeal on the BBC's Crimewatch programme.

On the anniversary of Christina's death in 2020, the Royal Military Police and the charity Crimestoppers launched another appeal for information, offering a £20,000 reward (which is no longer valid) asking for any information to Crimestoppers UK.

'We're stuck in limbo'

In 2018, the parents spoke to Forces News, with dad John saying that they are hopeful someone with new information will come forward.

"A part of our life we're stuck in limbo, we're still back in 1993," he said. "We'd like to be able to move on, to move away from that.

"The last 25 years has been overshadowed by trying to find the person that murdered our daughter."

Christina's mother, Christine, said: "She was happy, bright, had her whole life in front of her. You need justice."

Speaking in June 2017, Captain Teresa (Alex) Spanton from the Royal Military Police told Forces News: "We believe that her body was wrapped up in a Union Jack quilt cover.

"That was never found and also her shoes were never found either, so if anyone has any knowledge of any of those items that would be great."

The Royal Military Police continue to appeal for information. A Facebook page was opened to raise awareness of the Christina Menzies murder inquiry, with investigators keen for information about Christina's missing shoes and the quilt cover.

John Menzies has never given up believing his daughter's murderer will be found.

"The person who did this knows that we're on his tail and somewhere down the line we may get a conviction, but my message to the person who did it is we're coming for you and we're going to get you," he said.