UK UK - Ann Heron, 44, found at home with throat cut, Darlington, 3 August 1990

[WiseOwl]

I’m afraid at this juncture we’re just going round in circles - eg, we’ve discussed before how the DNA that was found on Ann belonging to PH wasn’t indicative of PH’s involvement in Ann’s murder. ‘DNA’ alone isn’t evidence of guilt - you need to show that it got there during the commission of a crime.

As for PH being a liar, he didn’t come clean about his affair, which is poor form, but - you know - let he who is without sin, and all that. PH says his movements can be accounted for, and as you can’t prove otherwise suggestions that witnesses are lying and so on are absolutely nothing but conjecture. A few more IMOs and JMOs wouldn’t go amiss in this thread.

The reality is there’s no case against PH. That doesn’t mean evidence of his involvement might not come to light one day, but as it stands there isn’t a single piece of evidence in the public domain that suggests he killed Ann Heron.

He did lie though, initially he gave police a different route he took back to the office before changing it to the long way round via Croft village.

He said he went this way in the hope of catching a glimpse of the woman he was having an affair with.

 

[rvlvr]

He did lie though, initially he gave police a different route he took back to the office before changing it to the long way round via Croft village.

He said he went this way in the hope of catching a glimpse of the woman he was having an affair with.

Oh I agree, but again and to be fair, I’m sure we’ve discussed this before too.

He lied about the route he took to hide evidence of his affair, rather than to hide evidence of his involvement in Ann’s murder - the true story reflects badly on PH’s character, but subsequently it also appears to have given him a better alibi, as he’s supposedly witnessed while driving this longer route, which accounts for the time he spent travelling between Cleveland Bridge and the office.

Essentially, this longer route, even if taken for immoral purposes, appears to actually weaken the already thin evidentiary case against him.

 

[Jen Jarvie]

Not necessarily. It seems the witness that was lent on was PH’s friend and former boss, PS. According to this article from 2015 PS refused ‘to sign his 2005 witness statement saying he “didn’t recognise 40 to 50 per cent of it”.’ The author of the article claims this is ‘on the record’, I’m guessing by ‘record’ he means ‘in the police file’, but without approaching the journalist I couldn’t say for certain.

Peter Heron: 'Police banged on my door to accuse me of murder - and my life was destroyed yet again'

THERE was the early morning bang on the door, the five-strong team of a police, the famous little speech, ‘we’re arresting you on suspicion of…

www.thenorthernecho.co.uk

Firstly, you don’t know how many suspects the police currently have, but even if this were true, being the only suspect in a case isn’t evidence of that suspect’s guilt. PH was a good suspect, but the evidence of PH’s guilt doesn’t exist.

Without access to the case file it’s impossible to know if mistakes have been made or opportunities missed re the investigation, on the surface it appears police did a solid job of chasing witnesses, trying to trace the car, obtaining forensic evidence by the standards of the day, and so on.

Clearly though, charging PH was a mistake. The police and the CPS overplayed their hands.

Edit: sp

I think the key point here is 'without access to the case file'. As the case has not been resolved I would suggest mistakes and missed opportunities have occurred.

 

[WiseOwl]

Oh I agree, but again and to be fair, I’m sure we’ve discussed this before too.

He lied about the route he took to hide evidence of his affair, rather than to hide evidence of his involvement in Ann’s murder - the true story reflects badly on PH’s character, but subsequently it also appears to have given him a better alibi, as he’s supposedly witnessed while driving this longer route, which accounts for the time he spent travelling between Cleveland Bridge and the office.

Essentially, this longer route, even if taken for immoral purposes, appears to actually weaken the already thin evidentiary case against him.

He would also have lied about the time he left the meeting, or arrived back at his office (or both) as well, because the initial route he took back to the office was a lot shorter than the one via Croft, at least a 20 minute difference.

He would have to explain this to the police as well.

 

[rvlvr]

He would also have lied about the time he left the meeting, or arrived back at his office (or both) as well, because the initial route he took back to the office was a lot shorter than the one via Croft, at least a 20 minute difference.

He would have to explain this to the police as well.

Again, I agree, I don’t think anyone disputes that PH lied, but for me it’s similar to the DNA - how does this relate to the crime, and how does it support the theory that PH killed his wife?

Someone behaving in a deceptive manner will obviously invite suspicion, and suspicion was definitely warranted in this case.

But as I’ve said previously, there’s no evidence that PH lied to hide his involvement in Ann’s murder. On the contrary, his initial story followed by the subsequent revelations about his private life only created *problems* for PH.

The true story, of where he went and why, reflects badly on PH in a moral and ethical sense, but it apparently also accounts for his movements that afternoon. His alibi was *weaker* when he was lying, and that’s kind of the opposite of what we’d want to see if we wanted to advance the theory that PH murdered Ann.

 

[Galaxia]

Gazette Live
Aug 7 2020
Ann Heron cold case: Detectives hope new forensic technology will solve murder 30 years on
''Police in Durham have reopened a cold case murder of 30 years, in the hope that new forensic techniques will help solve the crime.

Ann Heron's body was found in a pool of blood in her living room in Darlington on 3 August 1990, after sunbathing at the nearby Aeolian House.''
''The 44-year-old's husband, Peter, was charged with her murder in 2005, but was eventually cleared, with no more leads for police to pursue.''

''Detective Inspector Andy Reynolds, from Durham's Major Crime Team, said: "We are actively pursuing forensic inquiries using advances in technology in the hope of identifying evidence to prove who is responsible.''

"It comes after an appeal by Ms Heron's son, Ralph Cockburn, to reopen the case on the 30th anniversary of her death.

Mr Cockburn, a 56-year-old former detective, said: "After all this time, we still do not know who did this to mum, and why they did it''.

Someone must have seen something suspicious, witnesses, clues, including overlooked ones; forensic psychological investigation of suspects; camera observations near the murder of a possible suspect. This would really help.

 

[rvlvr]

Camera footage is probably a dead end unfortunately, this was long before dash cams, doorbell cams, ANPR cameras and the like. I’m guessing Cleveland Bridge had CCTV though, presumably this could’ve been used to verify when PH arrived then departed his meeting.

 

[tes1984]

Someone must have seen something suspicious, witnesses, clues, including overlooked ones; forensic psychological investigation of suspects; camera observations near the murder of a possible suspect. This would really help.

Let's hope for forensic advancements. The police seem to have taken a huge number of exhibits from the crime scene.

The reviews in 2005 allowed them to match minute semen stains to PH. Twenty years on and who knows what they've found.

Even some of the reports regarding Benson mention DNA. Pure speculation, but a recently discovered partial DNA profile might be enough to rule some suspects out.

 

[rvlvr]

The reviews in 2005 allowed them to match minute semen stains to PH. Twenty years on and who knows what they've found.

Yep, there’s so much we’re not privy to, and even things that’ve slipped out over the years, like the denim fibres found on Ann’s body, suggest police have a lot to work with (obviously, in the case of the denim fibres it’s going to be a struggle to match that to a specific person given denim’s ubiquity back in 1990, but if one such line of enquiry exists then others surely will too).

 

[Spoof]

Can you reference the reports that mention Benson and DNA?

 

[tes1984]

Can you reference the reports that mention Benson and DNA?

It's mentioned in the Daily Record article from a week or two ago.

 

[Spoof]

It says:

"However no direct link was made with Benson and following a lengthy investigation he was dismissed as a suspect."

 

[dotr]

https://www.durham.police.uk/news/durham/news2/2025/08.-august/fresh-appeal-following-murder-of-ann-heron-35-years-ago/

''Detectives are continuing to use advances in forensic technology as part of their review of the case, but they are still keen to hear from anyone who might know something but never reported it.

Detective Superintendent Craig Rudd, of Durham Constabulary, said: “It is now 35 years since Ann was tragically found dead in her own home in Darlington.

“Our Major Crime Team continues to review the case and investigate any new information in the hope of identifying evidence to prove who is responsible.

“We would urge anyone who might know something from that day, however insignificant they think it might be to come forward and get in touch. It is never too late.

“Ann’s family have been left devastated by what happened – they deserve closure, and we will never give up trying to find who killed her.”

Information can be reported to Durham Constabulary via 101, anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or via https://mipp.police.uk/operation/11HQ020101X43-PO1'

 

[Darlo84]

I'm new to this site & always take interest in this case.

Around 10 years ago I was out drinking in Darlington town centre and it was early into the night I got chatting to an older woman, I'd say she was around 50+. After a few drinks, we were talking about things that's happened in this town & this case got brought up. The woman, who I still have not seen since that day, said to me she doesn't understand why it's still open because it was a tractor driver who was the killer.

Now I'm only going off what I was told, however I cannot find out anything about a tractor driver around at that time but it's possible as there is fields behind that house. A few days back I commented on a woman's post, who she had been working at the old farmhouse that very day. I asked her did she know of any tractors around that day, but she replied she wasn't sure so I left it at that but took it as there may have been one around at some point.

Now because of this, I can't think of any other theory and I'm happy for someone to shoot me down over this because I want the right person to be brought to justice.

IF there was a tractor behind the house is it possible....

This young man/man watched Ann sunbathing alot and maybe had some obsession with her. It was the hottest day of the year, he possibly got talking to her & maybe she asked if he wanted some water or whatever. He's entered the house, he might have come onto her. He doesn't accept her refusal and it turns violent. The police said the dog didn't bark which it wouldn't as the dog would have most likely seen this man multiple times around the back. I'm not sure how the police come to that conclusion the dog didn't bark but if it didn't it would fit with it knew the person had the dog been in the house at the time.

As for the blue car, there were no mobiles around that time, I might be wrong. Could he have used the house phone to contact someone to come get him and that's why it sped off, getting out as quick as possible.

I'm sorry this is just a theory going off what I was originally told. Does anyone know of any tractors around this time? Or if you know anyone near that area at the time if they recall seeing one. This will stick with me now until someone debunks it.

 

[tes1984]

Local gossip is interesting, but from my experience with other cold cases, usually turns out to be wrong.

However, there was definitely agricultural work going on near the house. IIRC Ann moved her sunbathing spot because grass was being blown towards one side of the house. I think tractors/harvesters used and maintained the path behind the house.

The police will presumably have looked at all the gardeners and farm workers in the immediate area. Three men were questioned after being seen in a van, and IIRC there may have been a landscaping connection.

A 'failed' rape remains a definite possibility IMO, and the police certainly haven't ruled out such a scenario.

 

[Darlo84]

Local gossip is interesting, but from my experience with other cold cases, usually turns out to be wrong.

However, there was definitely agricultural work going on near the house. IIRC Ann moved her sunbathing spot because grass was being blown towards one side of the house. I think tractors/harvesters used and maintained the path behind the house.

The police will presumably have looked at all the gardeners and farm workers in the immediate area. Three men were questioned after being seen in a van, and IIRC there may have been a landscaping connection.

A 'failed' rape remains a definite possibility IMO, and the police certainly haven't ruled out such a scenario.

Thanks for the reply.

Now that you've said its possible tractors were there, I'm convinced now.

And also when you say a failed rape, it could fit in to he was turned down so this was attempted but then ended in murder.

Certainly interesting but without any DNA, this is always going to be a mystery because nobody in the area knows anything, or if they do they are hiding it which obviously is suspicious.

 

[Skigh]

I find it difficult to believe a man who had just been working in the fields entered the house and left no DNA.

 

[Darlo84]

I find it difficult to believe a man who had just been working in the fields entered the house and left no DNA.

Yeah there is that.

But who knows because nobody else's has been found apart from her husbands & I 100% believe he didn't kill her although part of me thinks he may know who did, he was having an affair, he even tried it on with my mother in a bar while my dad went to the toilet a year before so he wasnt actually a saint, total lack of respect towards his wife so who knows. He wanted to marry this other woman and maybe wanted her out of the way. I wouldn't rule out anyone on that woman's side or even the boyfriend that she was cheating on, maybe they wanted to teach him a lesson and let him know how it feels to get someone took away from them.

Every little theory is simply that....guesswork

 

[tes1984]

I 100% believe he didn't kill her although part of me thinks he may know who did, he was having an affair, he even tried it on with my mother in a bar while my dad went to the toilet a year before so he wasnt actually a saint, total lack of respect towards his wife so who knows.

This is very interesting and would have been a couple of months before PH started his affair with the barmaid.

PH was apparently well known for trying it on with married women. He would sometimes say things in front of the husbands, to test the waters and see if they got angry or just laughed it off.

 

[Darlo84]

This is very interesting and would have been a couple of months before PH started his affair with the barmaid.

PH was apparently well known for trying it on with married women. He would sometimes say things in front of the husbands, to test the waters and see if they got angry or just laughed it off.

I'm sure my mam said it was the same bar, I'll ask her.

Oh he definitely tested the waters, mam says he always did it, imagine being his partner and him doing that.

I'm not sure my dad was aware of him speaking to my mam, he's passed away now God bless him, but I suppose if he did know he would have put Peter on his arse lol