THE grand-daughter of a woman who was brutally murdered almost 53 years ago has appealed to Tavistock residents for help in tracing a photograph of her. Victoria Richards is desperately searching for any picture of her grandmother Rosemary Rowe. Victoria's mother, Kathleen Richardson, was just a baby when the murder took place and has never seen her own mother's face. Rosemary Rowe, maiden name Tape, was born in 1931 and lived in Tavistock with her family when she was a child. She was one of eleven children. The murder of 23-year-old Rosemary, who then lived in Exeter, was brutal and astonishing. She was stabbed to death by a mental patient who had escaped from Starcross Hospital in Devon. Police traced him to the house in Exeter but allowed him five minutes alone with the woman. This was all the time he needed to kill her. The two police officers left the room and with that Derek bolted the door and stabbed Rosemary 23 times. Rosemary's murderer, Derek Clide Adams, 31, was convicted of murder at Exeter Assizes on June 16, 1954 and sentenced to death. He appealed against the sentence a month later but it was dismissed by the Lord Chief Justice. A little over a week later the Home Secretary reprieved Adams and he was sentenced to life in prison. In the room at the time of the murder were Rosemary's two children, Kathleen, who was 17 months old, and her brother, Martin, who was three. After the incident the brother and sister were placed in care but were later separated when fostered to new parents in different parts of the country. After years of searching they found one another and started the quest for information about their murdered mother. Kathleen is now 54, and her daughter, Victoria, has taken on the mission of finding just one picture of the murdered woman. Victoria said: 'I have been looking for relatives who use to live in Tavistock years ago. 'A photo of Rosemary would be so lovely, it wouldn't matter if it was a baby picture, school picture or adult. 'She must have been nice as my mum has a lovely personality. I can't really imagine what my mum has been through as she was taken into care after the death of her mother. 'Words could not explain what joy and happiness this picture would bring — my mum just wants to see her mother's face which she has never seen before.' Mrs Richards is looking for any size or shape of picture, whether old or young. She hopes Tavistock residents can help as Rosemary went to a local school and had many friends from the area. Anyone who could help with this search can contact Mrs Richards on 01323 848919 or email [email protected]">[email protected]