Newcastle detectives are following new leads in their hunt for the killer of Cooks Hill eccentric Roslyn Reay after a review of the three-year-old investigation.

Ms Reay, 55, was stabbed at least 20 times in the second-storey bedroom of her Laman Street house in March 2005.

Her body lay undiscovered for a fortnight before her worried daughter Amanda Deer arrived to check on her.

Strike Force Oro investigators believe they have a profile of the person responsible for the violent murder of the passionate animal rights campaigner on or about March 18.

They have not been specific but police have confirmed evidence in the house shows the two spent some time together and they believe Ms Reay allowed her killer inside.

The frenzy points to the attack being personal, not random.

Despite interviewing many of Ms Reay's friends and taking DNA swabs from at least 30 associates, police do not believe they have spoken to the killer.

"She had such a wide circle of friends there would have been people she would have known who we are yet to speak with," Detective Sergeant Dave Nixon said yesterday.

"And it is those people who we really want to talk with."

Ms Reay was a passionate animal rights campaigner and was known to help people who needed it.

She had put up countless people who needed a second start but police do not believe a former tenant is responsible for Ms Reay's death.

"Eccentric could be a word to describe her," Detective Sergeant Nixon said.

"And a good deal of her friends either have or have had some type of psychiatric illness and that, in itself, has thrown up obstacles when you are trying to investigate a murder like this.

"We are happy with the response that we have got but we could do with more."

Detective Sergeant Nixon said a review of the case had led to some matters arising for investigation.

Ms Reay's death shocked the eclectic Cooks Hill community two years before two other well-known identities, Lillie Wood and Frank Newbery, died in shocking circumstances.

Ms Reay and Mr Newbery, the gentleman grocer whose murder remains unsolved, had been close friends for years.