THE family of a grandmother who may have been murdered by a predator in hospital have vowed to get justice.
A post-portem discovered that Valerie Kneale, 75 died from a stroke after being assaulted, possibly sexually.
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A pathologist found she suffered a horrific internal injury and told the police.
An inquest heard the pathologist 'felt' that Mrs Kneale's injury 'was caused by a forcible sexual assault after she was admitted to hospital'.
Mrs Kneale, who lived with husband Bill in Knott End-on-Sea, Lancashire, was taken to hospital on November 12, 2018, after falling ill. She died days later on November 16 at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.
Detective Chief Inspector Jill Johnston, of Lancashire Police, said: "This may be at the hands of somebody who is a predator and who may have committed previous attacks of this nature and may continue to do so."
Now a £20,000 reward has been offered to catch her killer.Her niece Lisa Jaffier told Crimewatch Live: "She was sat up, she was communicating.
"Obviously she was going to have challenges in her recovery but we were all very hopeful of a positive outcome.
"Her children wanted to stay with her that evening but the hospital said really she was in the best place that she could be in, there's really no need, she's going to be absolutely fine."
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Ms Jaffier added: "To think that someone did that to a lovely person at a time when she was helpless, at her most vulnerable, where she couldn't shout out, she couldn't defend herself
"We're left with a huge wound that can't even begin to heal until we find out who's responsible for doing that so that we can get justice."
DCI Johnston added: "The fact this has happened in a hospital setting is of grave concern to everyone and we've worked tirelessly along with the hospital to get justice for Mrs Kneale and her family, but also to stop this ever happening again."
Independent charity Crimestoppers announced the reward for any information that leads to the conviction of her murderer.
Call 0800 555 111 anonymously if you have information.
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