SOLVED MA - Jane Britton, 22, Harvard student, Cambridge, 7 Jan 1969

[Pink Panther]

Mods - Is there any way to turn the videos off? The sound makes it impossible to THINK!

 

[TinfoilYarmulke]

Bumping for Jane. Her birthday was just a few days ago...

BUT I found TWO new pictures of Jane:
http://thedigitalquilt.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15364coll2/id/31
http://thedigitalquilt.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15364coll2/id/8/rec/4

Description/Notes on first photo: " Photograph of (l to r): Charlotte Puffer, assistant principal; Jane Britton 1963; and Linda Carpenter 1964 at a Valentine's Day party at the House of Carpenter." and "The House of Carpenter is a brownstone in Boston, MA where every afternoon for two hours, goups of Dana Hall students offer their friendship and help to twenty or thirty neighborhood children, via books, music, arts and crafts, tutoring, talks, and holiday parties. An article on the House of Carpenter is in the Dana Hall Bulletin; v. 26, no. 3 (June 1964)."

Description on second photo mentions the group of students is from Dana Hall's "Service League".

 

[TinfoilYarmulke]

And here is her Class of 1963 photo from Dana Hall: http://thedigitalquilt.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15364coll2/id/20/rec/2

I THINK, Jane is the third row back, 5th from the right.

 

[TinfoilYarmulke]

Found a newspaper article I haven't seen before; mentions the killer smoked a cigarette and finding a bloody ashtry on the floor: http://archives.chicagotribune.com/...icle/suspect-rite-performed-by-co-eds-killers

 

[DonMitchell]

Yes, that's the cigarette butt that somebody called me about, somewhere around 1996 or 1997. I can't remember that person's name (a woman) and there was only the one call. Her idea was that modern DNA technology could likely extract information from that butt. And I expect that's true, but first the butt has to be located. I have no idea whether it might have been saved. Certainly in 1969 no one had any idea of what would be possible decades later.

 

[December]

Yes, that's the cigarette butt that somebody called me about, somewhere around 1996 or 1997. I can't remember that person's name (a woman) and there was only the one call. Her idea was that modern DNA technology could likely extract information from that butt. And I expect that's true, but first the butt has to be located. I have no idea whether it might have been saved. Certainly in 1969 no one had any idea of what would be possible decades later.

They might have kept it to match the brand to a suspect (not a huge piece of evidence, but still). But, it may have deteriorated a lot over all these years even if they still have it. And getting DNA from a guy who died in 1996 would be difficult, maybe even impossible.

ETA: Matching the brand would assume that when they collected evidence in 1969, they'd be questioning people in 1969. After years went by, the killer could have stopped smoking or changed brands.

 

[DonMitchell]

I keep forgetting to mention that when I wrote a blind email to the Cambridge PD, asking when 911 went into service, I got a reply (below). I was asking because, as I've said, I'm at work on a novel based on the murder. And when I was writing the scene in which the protagonist finds the body, I realized I couldn't remember if 911 was in service then, or whether one dialed 0 and had the operator connect.

Here's the email:

Dear Mr Mitchell,

You have presented us with a great question. Unfortunately, we cannot locate any documents that indicate when the first 911 call was made in Cambridge. The old police station had water problems so many older records stored in the basement were damaged. We think it should be about 1972-1973. I think because we weren't among the first cities/towns in Massachusetts to implement 911, it wasn't newsworthy when we finally got it.

January 1969 would be a little early for most places to have 911 service. The first phone call was made only a year prior in Alabama and I don't think it was an easy implementation for the telephone companies.

Prior to 911, the police department had a 7-digit emergency telephone number that was answered by a switchboard operator at the police station. If you didn't know the 7-digit number, you could dial 0 and the telephone operator would transfer you to the correct police department or relay the information. I think the 411 operators could also transfer callers (I'll have to ask my sister who worked there briefly in the 1980's when there were still some places that did not have 911).

I also have several inquiries out to some retired city employees and Cambridge police officers to see if they remember. I will let you know if I hear from any of them.


Paula Snow
Chief of Operations
Emergency Communications and 911 Center

Note the statement about the water damage. That could be bad news for paper documents relating to the case.

 

[TinfoilYarmulke]

They might have kept it to match the brand to a suspect (not a huge piece of evidence, but still). But, it may have deteriorated a lot over all these years even if they still have it. And getting DNA from a guy who died in 1996 would be difficult, maybe even impossible.

ETA: Matching the brand would assume that when they collected evidence in 1969, they'd be questioning people in 1969. After years went by, the killer could have stopped smoking or changed brands.

All good points. I remember the cigarette butt being mentioned before, but I was never able to locate the source for it. I was excited to finally find one. FWIW, the unnamed POI was still smoking cigarettes in 1987...

 

[TinfoilYarmulke]

I found two floor plans for studio apartments at 4 University Road (the same building as 6 University Road). I wonder if either of these were like Jane's apartment? I've been trying to picture it and the layout of the scene.

 

[DonMitchell]

The layouts don't look right to me, even after I flipped them around.

Where did you get them? I ask because, as you know, the building was converted to condos some years ago. I'm guessing that when that happened, some of the apartments were reorganized.

I'm not saying that Jane's apartment was radically different, though.

I'm traveling now but when I get back I'll try to sketch something. I do have photographs of the apartment, but they are going to be hard to find, and were not taken to show the apartment itself. I think there are some that show the outside windows (looking out to the MBTA yard and the Charles) and those may show the wall against which the bed was located.

I can't remember where the bathroom was, at all.

But I feel certain that when you walked into the door, the kitchen was directly in front of you (and close). You then made a right turn, which led into the main living area, which was mostly or entirely then to your left.

So imagine the Studio.jpg (the left-hand thumbnail) plan with the entry door at the bottom, for the perimeter layout.

I do remember that the layout of the apartments on each floor was different. For example, I think that the apartment just below mine (and Jane's) on the 3rd floor was large and took up the entire space of our two apartments.

And I have a vague memory that people said (yes, the famous "people said") that the small apartments like Jane's had been carved out of the larger ones (like the 3rd floor ones), that they had not been part of the original design.

I think I remember the name of the guy who lived under us on the 3rd floor. No doubt he was interviewed by LE about anything he might have seen or heard, but if anybody wants the name in case he can be found and might remember something useful, I can supply it.

Finally, the realty company that managed the building was called "R.M. Bradley," as I remember. Maybe they're still in business and maybe they have floor plans dating to that time.

 

[TinfoilYarmulke]

I got the layouts from when the units went up for rent a few years ago, so it must have been after they were renovated into condos already.

Unfortunately, I didn't find anything useful after searching R.M. Bradley. I'd love to see a sketch of the apartment when/if you have time. Still trying to wrap my heard around the layout. Happy and safe travels, Don!


That aside, two things have been on my mind lately:

1. Is it possible someone slipped into Jane's apartment while she was visiting with the Mitchell's? Did they surprise her as she entered or hid in the bathroom for awhile maybe?

2. Was Jane already dressed in her nightgown when she was visiting the Mitchell's? If not, that means there was some lapse of time for her to change into her nightgown.

 

[DonMitchell]

Good questions.

A person who was being very careful, which would have included rubber-soled shoes, for example -- could have gotten in there while Jane was at our place. It would have been tricky, though. The stairwell echoed footsteps very well, and the intruder would have to have passed our door to get to Jane's. Our door (and the short hall beyond) would have been maybe 10-15' from where we were sitting around. So, doable with planning but not otherwise. This was before running shoes and the like were common, and most soles would have been leather, and noisy.

I'm sure that she wasn't in her night clothes when she came over.

 

[Pink Panther]

Bump.

 

[her brother]

Jane's brother (me) was totally unaware of this now deceased person until re-establishing contact with Don Mitchell via this site in 2016. My own "possible", still alive and not to be named, was interviewed by Cambridge p.d. in 1969 and apparently "alibi'd out".

 

[Hedwig]

Does anyone know anything about the murder of fifteen-year-old Kathy Herold on July 1,1985 in Kenmore, NY outside of Buffalo? Police seem to think she may have been killed by a jealous boyfriend. Her father was an archaeologist, Director of the Buffalo Museum of Science, leading a tour in Mexico when he died of an apparent heart attack a year before she was killed. Prior to his death he was RMG's boss for two years.

 

[Kaeru]

Oh my, another potential connection to RMG and a murder in the archaeological community. See my recent logsheet post on the "Canada, Anne Abraham, 19, Ramah Bay" Thread:

August 6, 2016 is the 40th anniversary of Anne Abraham's death. There is a strong suspicion by many people that it was not an accident. Help us solve this case.

Here's a logsheet of references to Anne's case on the Jane Britton thread. RMG may have connections to both these cases and also a third case of Ada Bean near Harvard. For the actual posts go to “MA - Jane Britton, 22 Harvard student, 7 Jan 1969”, a Thread started 11/2/12 by MAcoldcase.

Post# Date Poster’s alias topic/issue
#598 8/14/14 Scrutin-eyes Anne, RMG connection
#600 8/14/14 DonMitchell RMG, Smithsonian article
#604 8/15/14 Scrutin-eyes Mad Mike @ Stony Brook
#607 8/16/14 Scrutin-eyes RMG selling artifacts
#608 8/16/14 Scrutin-eyes connect cases of Jane & Anne
#615 8/16/14 Pink Panther same suspicion of RMG
#618 8/16/14 Pink Panther Anne’s family search
#620 8/16/14 Dotr refer to VIDOCQ Society?
#623 8/16/14 DonMitchell RMG at Harvard
#624 8/16/14 Pink Panther RMG was in Cambridge1969
#625 8/17/14 Pink Panther Anne’s sister to Labrador in 2006
#629 8/18/14 Scrutin-eyes RMG was enrolled, probably knew Jane
#632 8/19/14 Scrutin-eyes RMG was there, knew Jane
#637 8/19/14 Ausgirl Anne & Jane murders connected
#640 8/19/14 PinkPanther Anne citation
#641 8/19/14 PinkPanther Torngat articles
#642 8/19/14 PinkPanther Hilda’s Creek
#644 8/20/14 Scrutin-eyes RMG violating NAGPRA 1990 laws
#645 8/20/14 Scrutin-eyes RMG trigger
#648 8/20/14 DonMitchell RMG calls FBI on Miller
#649 8/20/14 Ausgirl Anne – protocol for field teams
#650 8/21/14 Scrutin-eyes RMG an ex-marine and Anne
#653 8/29/14 Hoosgirl Helicopter pilot searched for Anne
#654 9/2/14 MAcoldcase RMG suspicion from start (began Jane thread)
#655 9/2/14 Ausgirl RMG and Jane
#656 9/2/14 Ausgirl Radio tribute for Anne
#657 9/2/14 Rhino-Esq RMG’s temper
#658 9/2/14 Dotr Anne’s handwriting in final journal?
#660 9/3/14 PinkPanther Wish Anne’s sister would join.
#661 9/5/14 Scrutin-eyes Anne’s find, RMG’s temper
#668 9/11/14 DonMitchell RMG unethical
#670 9/16/14 Scrutin-eyes RMG’s rage and poss multiple murders
#672 9/16/14 Ausgirl RMG premeditated?

#741 1/14/16 HerBrother Boyd Britton join thread
#752 2/14/16 Kaeru Red ochre, Jane & Anne
#753 2/14/16 DonMitchell Many people discussed earlier
#755 2/22/16 PinkPanther Anne & Hilda’s Creek
#756 2/24/16 Kaeru Hilda’s Creek
#761 3/7/16 PinkPanther RMG & other in article
#767 4/17/16 Dotr Helicoptor Pilot Mike Ash
#768 4/18/16 Scriptgirl Why Anne on Jane Britton thread?
#769 4/18/16 DonMitchell Because…
#770 4/19/16 Hedwig Other archaeology related murders/accidents?
#771 4/19/16 December Should Anne have own thread?
#772 4/19/16 Kaeru Anne was skilled climber
#775 4/20/16 Dotr **separate Anne Thread started**
#779 4/23/16 PinkPanther contact authorities about Anne’s case?
#781 4/23/16 PinkPanther archaeologists in common with Jane & Anne
#785 4/24/16 Kaeru Anne’s parents
#786 4/24/16 Meade shushed up?

Also see earlier on the Jane Britton thread the discussion of red ochre and ritual murder. That is another possible connection to Anne's case.

#5 12/5/12 Pink Panther Red Ochre rites in Britton’s murder
#7 12/8/12 MAcoldcase “100’s of students” interviewed
#16 12/13/12 Pink Panther Red Ochre
#17 12/14/12 MAcoldcase Ada Bean murder connection?
#18 12/14/12 Pink Panther “ “
#19 12/16/12 Pink Panther Ritual stone bludgeoned Britton
#21-23 12/16/12 Pink Panther “ “
#27 12/16/12 Pink Panther Britton over 40 years – open case
#28 12/19/12 Pink Panther rush job on interviewing students
#32 12/19/12 Pink Panther rush -- archaeology students leaving for digs
#40 12/24/12 Ausgirl jealous archaeology dig team? Possible weapon?
#65 12/28/12 Robin Hood Red Ochre rites
#123 1/4/13 MAcoldcase students interviewed? Bean connection?
#182 8/14/13 Justice4Jane stone not missing. Globe 7/20/75 article.
#223 11/22/13 HankB New England & Red Ochre rtiual.

 

[DonMitchell]

Kathy Herold's mother Elaine was associated with our department at Buffalo State College. I didn't know her well, and I didn't know the daughter (although our paths probably crossed). I did go to her funeral.

Perhaps somewhere on Websleuths there's a thread about Altemio Sanchez, the "Bike Path Killer."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altemio_Sanchez

If you look at the Wikipedia article you'll see that Sanchez is still considered a suspect, but that there is no evidence against him.

I've emailed a friend who wrote a book about Sanchez. It's possible that in his investigations for the book he might have heard about other suspects for the Herold murder.

 

[dotr]

Kathy Herold's mother Elaine was associated with our department at Buffalo State College. I didn't know her well, and I didn't know the daughter (although our paths probably crossed). I did go to her funeral.

Perhaps somewhere on Websleuths there's a thread about Altemio Sanchez, the "Bike Path Killer."


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altemio_Sanchez

If you look at the Wikipedia article you'll see that Sanchez is still considered a suspect, but that there is no evidence against him.

I've emailed a friend who wrote a book about Sanchez. It's possible that in his investigations for the book he might have heard about other suspects for the Herold murder.

Thanks for the info. there is a limited thread for A Sanchez.
http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...313038&highlight=Altemio+Sanchez#post10313038

 

[dotr]

Just started a thread for Katherine Herold, although there is not much info out there specific to her case.
She is referenced in relation to Sanchez because he is an obvious suspect, but although he has admitted to several of the bike murders, there is no proof to date, as far as i can see, that he also murdered Kathy.
imo, speculation.
http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...985-Town-of-Tonawanda&p=12686900#post12686900
Katherine Herold, 15, murdered 1 July 1985,Town of Tonawanda

 

[Pink Panther]

bump.