A chilling letter containing a torn-off pizza label was sent to the pub where murdered Jo Yeates enjoyed her final drink with colleagues, it was revealed today.
The sick note, scrawled on A5 paper in black ink, was sent to the Bristol Ram shortly after her snow-covered body was found on Christmas Day.
Written on lined paper which appeared to have been ripped from a notepad, the letter had a made-up address and telephone number but was not signed.
The letter discussed different pizza toppings, stated Miss Yeates’ name and had a pizza label stuffed inside it.
It is not known if the label is from a Tesco Finest pizza which Jo bought on her way home on the night she vanished.
The letter is not believed to make any direct reference to the 25-year-old’s murder, but detectives have seized the package as part of their investigation.
Bristol Ram landlord Alex Major confirmed the information was correct but said police had told him not to speak to press about the matter.
A source said: ”I was in the pub when the police came but saw the letter before they took it away.
”As soon as I saw her name I realised it could be very important. The police were clearly interested.
”I could not see whether the label came from the same pizza that she is supposed to have bought.”
The Ram landlord Alex Major
Miss Yeates was last seen alive enjoying after-work drinks with colleagues in the Bristol Ram on Park Street on December 17.
She then walked back to her rented flat in Canynge Road, Clifton, and popped into a Waitrose store, a Bargain Booze shop and a Tesco Express on her way.
At the Tesco branch she bought a ‘Finest’ mozzarella, tomato and basil pesto pizza which has never been found.
The landscape architect was reported missing by boyfriend Greg Reardon, 27, two days later when he returned home from a weekend away.
Her snow-covered body was found three miles away at the side of Longwood Lane in Failand on Christmas Day.
Miss Yeates’ landlord Chris Jefferies, 65, a former teacher at Clifton College, was arrested on suspicion of murder on December 30 but released on police bail two days later.
Last Friday police retraced her final movements, speaking to more than 200 people in Failand, Clifton and at the Bristol Ram in Park Street.
Leading criminologist Professor David Wilson said he was not surprised the letter had been sent.
He said: ”I am inundated with letters about Joanna Yeates on almost a daily basis.
”What it reveals is that some stories have real resonance. In other words people connect with the story.
”Joanna Yeates was white, educated, professional, had loving parents and was in a relationship. She had also just finished celebrating Christmas with friends.
”Her story connects with people who read newspapers, watch television or listen to the radio.
”When a story connects with a lot of people they want to be associated with it. That letter arrived at the Bristol Ram just because it is involved in the case.
”My view is I would not worry too much about it, but of course police will have to investigate.”
A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said all reports linked with the murder case were taken seriously.
Hi. Like everyone the mystery of this case has gripped me as well. This
Theory that senerario.the pizza issue may be a decoy ,i think it’s a hate
Murder,but it could be a random predetorry attack that went wrong,who knows?I dont think it was planned .
RIP Jo