It was just days before Christmas when mum Ulla Derrick lost her life after her first floor flat filled with smoke.
Almost three years on, and the 51-year-old’s family are still waiting for justice.
Ulla’s case is one of four murder investigations still unsolved at Wiltshire Police – with one dating back to the mid-90s.
Over the next four weeks, we will be looking back at these cases as the police renew their public appeal.
Fire in the middle of the night
It was around 1am on December 17, 2019, just eight days before Christmas, that a block of flats in Waiblingen Way caught fire.
A sofa went up in flames in the communal stairwell.
Residents were left trapped and had to be rescued by firefighters.
Despite being rushed to Swindon’s Great Western Hospital, Ulla passed away hours later.
Speaking at the time, Ulla’s family described the suspected arson attack as a “senseless act” which “denied us of a beautifully free-spirited daughter, mother and life partner”.
They said she “loved her family and friends very much along with a passion for art and music”.
“She will be missed, forever. Sure you’re having a giggle and a dance up there in heaven.”
Ulla left behind her partner Paul and son Matty.
Eight other people were injured in the blaze, which broke out at about 1am on December 17.
Detectives immediately suspected foul play and arrested a 20-year-old man on suspicion of murder.
They were granted extra time to question him, but he was released and the trail has since gone cold.
Residents speak of ordeal
On top of the tragedy, many families were left homeless as a result of the fire.
The shocked community immediately rallied around the residents, collecting clothing and essentials and raising thousands of pounds.
One of those residents who needed help was Alessandro Nateri and his two sons, William and Thomas.
They were re-homed in Rowde, but speaking at the time, the 35-year-old café worker said he did not want to return to the block of flats because of the effect it may have on his sons.
“It is not a good place for them to be,” he told the Gazette and Herald.
“We managed to survive that terrible tragedy. Luckily our smoke alarm woke us up and we were able to escape through a window.”
He says he will never forget the look of terror on his elder boy’s face as they fled.
The family had lived in the block of flats for just a week when the fire broke out.
“Our flat was right next to where the fire started. Thomas was crying in his bottom bed and I ran to take and put him in the living room which was the only one not full of smoke.
“William jumped from his top bed and run back to me with terror on his face. My flat was number 80, facing the staircase where the fire was. We went through the living room window absolutely petrified into the rain and cold.”
Case has gone cold
Wiltshire Police said that Ulla’s death and the other three unsolved murders are cold cases.
The probes have been fully investigated and are either unable to meet the criminal threshold to charge a suspect, or the person charged has been acquitted.
But the force said it never closes murder investigations and it conducts regular reviews.
Head of the Major Crime Investigation Unit, Detective Chief Inspector Phil Walker, said: “It is important to state that none of these cases are closed and will remain open until they are solved.
“We regularly review these cases in order to identify any potential new lines of enquiry, any advances in technology which may assist us or consider any renewed witness appeals.
“We will, of course, respond to any new information which is reported to us linked to any of this cases. On this basis, we would always encourage people to share information with us if they feel this might be relevant to any open investigation.
“You can contact us via 101, report the information via our website or through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be left anonymously if preferred.”
Next weekend, we will be looking at another one of Wiltshire’s unsolved murders.
If you’re a friend or family member of Ulla and would like to talk about the incident or the past few years, please get in touch by emailing ryan.evans@newsquest.co.uk.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article