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

[Ausgirl]

And wow.. there's the SDS again..


OT, here -- but on reading your link above, Robin, I had a moment's rage at this that I just can't keep to myself:

Archie Allen led the Psychelic Rangers into negotiations for Hurkos' services. The psychic had requested $2500, plus traveling expenses, so the group sent out a plea for money. They received only a few donations, which amounted to $1010. Hurkos was initially insulted

Fricken hearse chasers! There's dead girls, grieving families, and this vulture is "insulted"? I'd have paid him in tar and feathers, if that was MY child's death or disappearance he was trying to feed off...

*Ahem* Back on topic now:

From what I've read, killers with fetishes like to do things and leave things a certain way, though will 'make do' if they can't have it all just as they want it.

Now, both Jane and Ada's killer left things a certain way - for whatever reason - both crimes are pretty much identical.

- both women were in their night clothes, presumably in bed or preparing to be so, at the time of attack
- both died of head injuries
- neither was raped
- both had their nightclothes pulled up over their faces, and then the bodies were covered up.

And other similarities between the two:

- both lived in buildings subject to the agendas of the housing union and Jessie Gill (and the SDS?)
- both had connection to Harvard


Differences:

- age
- marital status
- Jane was still at Harvard, Ada worked elsewhere


While I'm running thoughts, here's a few that crossed my mind today:

- The media blackout on Jane's death - did that prompt Ada's murder? Was the killer miffed that Jane's death got so little media attention?

- It was reported that Ada's killer tried several doors before breaking into Ada's place - which made me wonder --which doors-- and whether Ada was not a specific target.

- If Ada was not a specific target, and the killer was indeed the same as Jane's (I am not much of a believer in sheer fate being involved in multiple coincidences...) then was the killer a/ a serial killer unconcerned with who the victims were, b/ looking for someone, anyone, to kill and stage to make it look like there was a serial killer loose, or c/ looking to revive media attention..

- The media thing seems not a bad call, seeing as there was a blackout on Jane's death, and Ada's really didn't get as much reportage as one might expect, all things considered. Were those fires set as yet another desperate means to get the crimes all over the news?

- Were the fires set as yet another means of demonstrating that nobody in any of these housing union-related apartments was safe?

Just idle thoughts. But I do think Ada and Jane's deaths are related.

 

[Robin Hood]

I thought I had seen Hurkos before, he was the guy who had them digging up a warehouse floor, looking for the Beaumont children.

'- The media blackout on Jane's death - did that prompt Ada's murder? Was the killer miffed that Jane's death got so little media attention? ''

It's possible but I keep wanting to lean to it being a distraction. But what do I know ?

 

[Ausgirl]

Distraction is a perfectly plausible theory. Especially as Jane's murder very well might have been quite personal.. a way to take the heat off, maybe?

Just a small note: I read in article I can't presently find that Jane's archaeology professor very adamantly stated the ochre was not used ritualistically and pooh-poohed the whole idea, saying something about it being a smudge on her cheek blown out of all proportion (to paraphrase... it's late and I'm too weary to go looking for source again).

So perhaps your theory regarding it being part of Jane's art materials was right on the ball, Robin.

 

[Robin Hood]

I do think both women were covered up with clothing to distance them from their attacker/s. I know that with another case I've been looking at that distancing can play a part.
I would like to know if both funerals were filmed by LE.
We need more background on Ada. I wonder if she had any connection to SDS or if she played any sort of admin role IYSWIM.
I read that there was somebody trying apartment doors on the night of the attack but I
also read he could well have come through the bathroom window, I need to go back and start again with Ada.

 

[Pink Panther]

I don't really think that Jane and Ada's murders were related. Jane's was so specific with very detailed "anthropological" touches and Ada's might very well have been of a personal nature but so different. I just don't see the similarities. Ada was a grandmother (2 generations passed Jane) and wasn't on campus. She lived in the area and had worked for Harvard but how many hundreds or thousands in the area hadn't done the same? No paint/iodine splatters at Ada's death scene. No references to Neopaleonathic burial rites. Unless the police completely managed to cover up everything regarding Ada Bean's death scene, I just don't see the connection.

JMO

 

[Ausgirl]

I was much of the same mind on the matter, PP, until I started reading how several of Jane's professors stated quite emphatically that the ochre stuff was in their opinion blown out of all proportion, and was not anything to do with burial rites after all. One said she had a 'smudge on her cheek' - no 'ritual' marks at all.. With that detail cleared up, the two murders seem a bit more similar, to me. And pretty close together in time and distance.. I think it's an avenue worth exploring, at least, since there was actual witness descriptions in Ada's case.

Still can find nothing at all on Ada aside form the very few articles on her death..

 

[Robin Hood]

I have had a reply from the Harvard Crimson re. the photofit they have in their records, unfortunately they charge $50 for sending the info and to cover copywrite.
The woman was helpful, maybe she'll take pity on us and send it.

 

[Pink Panther]

I was much of the same mind on the matter, PP, until I started reading how several of Jane's professors stated quite emphatically that the ochre stuff was in their opinion blown out of all proportion, and was not anything to do with burial rites after all. One said she had a 'smudge on her cheek' - no 'ritual' marks at all.. With that detail cleared up, the two murders seem a bit more similar, to me. And pretty close together in time and distance.. I think it's an avenue worth exploring, at least, since there was actual witness descriptions in Ada's case.

Still can find nothing at all on Ada aside form the very few articles on her death..

There was only ever one professor who initially made the statement about the ochre and neanderthal ritual burials. He was quoted several times in the newspapers and then, suddenly, when LE started the "blackout" on information he retracted. I think he retracted in keeping with LE's instruction. They had not released those details to the public; he (the professor) had and they did everything they could (with his "backpeddling" assistance) to do so!

jmo

 

[Pink Panther]

I have had a reply from the Harvard Crimson re. the photofit they have in their records, unfortunately they charge $50 for sending the info and to cover copywrite.
The woman was helpful, maybe she'll take pity on us and send it.

Unbelievable.

 

[Pink Panther]

I have had a reply from the Harvard Crimson re. the photofit they have in their records, unfortunately they charge $50 for sending the info and to cover copywrite.
The woman was helpful, maybe she'll take pity on us and send it.

Unbelievable...Copyright of what?

 

[Robin Hood]

Unbelievable...Copyright of what?

My original request was for a copy of the page. It wasn't until after her reply and quote that I pointed out it was a photofit and LE drawing, up 'til then I believe she thought it was an article.

 

[Robin Hood]

''Three witnesses have described the murder suspect as a man of light brown complexion, 24-26 years old, 5'10"-5'11", and 150-160 pounds. Police experts have sketched drawings to approximate the three descriptions''

This is what the caption reads below the blocked out, all black, photofit.

Makes you think the news blackout stretched to Ada too. Ada, who's murder was or wasn't connected to Jane's, the former being the most likely.
Now, if somebody can explain why a photofit that's meant to help catch a murderer is hidden from the public eye I would be extremely grateful.
Maybe, just maybe, it was too accurate.

A huge thank you to the person who supplied me the details of the article.

 

[fred&edna]

''Three witnesses have described the murder suspect as a man of light brown complexion, 24-26 years old, 5'10"-5'11", and 150-160 pounds. Police experts have sketched drawings to approximate the three descriptions''

This is what the caption reads below the blocked out, all black, photofit.

Makes you think the news blackout stretched to Ada too. Ada, who's murder was or wasn't connected to Jane's, the former being the most likely.
Now, if somebody can explain why a photofit that's meant to help catch a murderer is hidden from the public eye I would be extremely grateful.
Maybe, just maybe, it was too accurate.

A huge thank you to the person who supplied me the details of the article.

Well, if that isn't the craziest thing ever! Frustrating and very suspicious.... don't ya think?

Thank you SO much for all the effort, RH

 

[Pink Panther]

Well, if that isn't the craziest thing ever! Frustrating and very suspicious.... don't ya think?

Thank you SO much for all the effort, RH

There was a ban placed by LE as to what could be published so, without access to police files, it is very difficult to get much information.

 

[fred&edna]

There was a ban placed by LE as to what could be published so, without access to police files, it is very difficult to get much information.

Yes, I know. I was implying it would make more sense if LE simply stated that due to the blackout they could not provide a sketch. Giving the newspaper a sketch that is blacked-out is useless as well as a waste of time. (imo).

 

[Pink Panther]

Bumping for Jane.

 

[Pink Panther]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/11/boston-strangler-case_n_3580105.html

 

[Pink Panther]

Still no new information and LE just keeps it all "under wraps"...

Bumping for Jane.

 

[AnnelienB]

Hello, I'm new to the site and looking for some more information about a murder that occurred in Cambridge, MA in 1969. Jane Britton, a graduate student at Harvard, was killed in her apartment, and while I've been able to find a few archived newspaper articles about the case, they end very abruptly with a black-out imposed by the local police chief. I've written a couple of emails to the Cambridge police department that have gone unanswered, and would just like to know if this case was ever solved - and if so, what the outcome was. I've included links to some of the articles below, but would appreciate anything else that anyone can come up with - I'd be particularly interested in finding out who was interviewed by the police. Likewise, if anyone has a connection with local law enforcement there, feel free to send me a private message. Thanks in advance!

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1969/1/8/grad-student-killed-ptwenty-three-year-old-jane-s/

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YIMkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HlEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7065%2C2257058

Hi I'm new, been reading this blog. I'm from South Africa, so please excuse my spelling and grammer.


The lady that wrote the artical "Anne DE Saint phalle" she should have more info?
Was it total black out to the press, and since 40 years!

A

 

[Justice4Jane]

I've been researching this cold case for some time now and was surprised to see a thread on this site. I thought I was the only person thinking about this awful murder and wondering if it could be solved many years later. An anthropology professor I had in college recounted the story in class one day. The story seemed so sensational that I thought it had to be a myth, or that he was kidding around, so I was pretty stunned when I started doing some research about it and discovered that it actually happened.

The community here has found many of the same news reports that I did, although there are some that you haven't yet come across. I'll post sources when I get some spare time. As one poster mentioned early on, a Grand Jury was convened a month or so after the murder. They apparently failed to issue an indictment, although the DA didn't rule out charging someone. After that, there are no stories (as far as I can tell) for about 5 years, when a very short newspaper blurb mentions that Britton's murder hadn't yet been solved, but that a Harvard faculty member had been the prime suspect for a time. A much earlier piece mentions that the police wanted to question a member of the Cambridge academic community that left the country shortly after her death. Another early piece says that a faculty member admitted to police that he dated her once, but also doesn't identify the person. And that's all I can find. Can the police department actually still have a news blackout on this case when there have apparently been no leads in 40 years? I have no idea how law enforcement operates, but I can't understand this. Might the case files be available for review? Are there detectives alive who might be able to talk about this?

You'd think that with all the physical evidence presumably collected from the scene would include the killer's DNA? Today techniques have advanced so much that all a person needs to do is reach in a pocket and they've left behind identifiable DNA.

As I've researched this case I've felt a sense of helplessness that Jane's parents died without her killer being brought to justice. My wife's family lost a relative to murder 10 years ago, and it was pretty traumatic, so I know what they must've been going through. At least in my wife's case, the murderer was promptly caught, tried, sentenced and jailed.