Christian Bagley was murdered in Hereford on father’s day in 2015, when his daughter was just 19 months old.
“I was never given the chance to get to know him or for him to watch me grow up,” she said, in a letter shared by police for the 10th anniversary of Mr Bagley’s death as the murder remains unsolved.
The letter went on: “Somebody taking my dad away from me when I was little is something that can never be replaced. I have no memories of my dad or his presence in my life – only what other people have told me.
“I’ll never be able to spend Father’s Day, Christmas Day or a birthday with my dad. There’s an emptiness that should not be inside me because somebody murdered my dad. That void within myself will always be there.
“They still haven’t found who killed my dad or any answers to why somebody cruelly took him away. I love you dad!”
Crimestoppers, the independent charity, is supporting the police appeal by offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for Mr Bagley’s murder.
On the night of Sunday, June 21, 2015, Mr Bagley, aged 30, had been to see his 19-month-old daughter at his ex-partner’s house for Father’s Day.
As he walked home towards Hunderton Bridge, along Villa Street adjacent to the River Wye and underneath the Great Western Way footpath, known locally as the Lines, Mr Bagley was stabbed by an unknown person.
After being attacked near the concrete steps linking the street to the Lines, he managed to stagger to Charles Witts Avenue to seek help. He died in hospital from his injuries.
The weapon used, believed to be a kitchen knife, remained embedded in his left arm, while the handle that snapped off during the attack has never been found.
No-one has ever been charged with Christian’s murder. Although several suspects were arrested around the time, they were later released without charge and the case remains unsolved.
Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Lougher, of West Mercia Police’s Major Investigation Unit, said: “While we have continued to investigate this case, a decade on it seems timelier than ever to appeal again to the public to help us get justice for Christian’s daughter, mother and all his family and friends.
“We hope this heartfelt message from a daughter who has grown up never knowing her father will prick the conscience of someone carrying a burden of knowledge about his murder to step forward and help us bring those responsible before the courts.
“After 10 years, loyalties and allegiances may have changed, and we hope anyone who knows something will do the right thing and speak to us.”