Detectives have launched a re-investigation into the murder of Ryan Passey, who was stabbed to death at a nightclub in Stourbridge in August 2017.

Ryan was enjoying a night out with friends after playing at a local football match when he was stabbed inside Chicago’s nightclub

Ryan, aged 24, was rushed to hospital but sadly passed away soon after. He died of a single stab wound to the chest. A 19-year-old man was charged with Ryan’s murder but a jury found him not guilty at a trial in February, 2018.

Last year, West Yorkshire Police agreed to carry out an independent review of the investigation and the trial into Ryan’s tragic death, and presented their findings last month. Homicide officers have been assessing this review and accepted all 18 recommendations to determine the next steps. Officers from the force homicide team met with Ryan’s family to discuss these next steps. 

This was a positive meeting and West Midlands Police and the family can announce that Ryan’s death is now being re-investigated as a homicide investigation. Det Supt Shaun Edwards, head of the homicide department, said:

“We will be following up all of the recommendations made in the independent review as part of our re-investigation. Our focus is on Ryan’s family and we will continue to work with them as that investigation progresses.”

The family welcomes this new investigation and ask that any person who has information from events of Ryan’s death now or then to contact West Midlands Police. 

Anyone with information to help the investigation has been asked to get in touch via 101 or Live Chat on the West Midlands Police website, quoting log 2313 of 20 July, 2023. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.