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

[rvlvr]

Nothing about £50k in the newspapers archive but can see in 1999, The Sunday People put up a £10,000 reward for any information regarding various cases in a series of articles with John Stalker.

That John Stalker series is here if anyone wants to read it in full:

Stalker investigates: pounds 10,000 to solve a murder; YOU CAN HELP SUNDAY PEOPLE CATCH THE KILLERS. - Free Online Library

 

[Jen Jarvie]

The attacks in Durham were 25 miles away from Darlington, and IIRC one of the attackers was described as having a beer belly, whereas the appeal for Benson's recapture described him as slim.

There were two separate attacks by two individuals that were not together.

 

[Jen Jarvie]

Have you any information that relates to the reward increasing to £50k?

This was a combination of different sources to accumulate £50k; however, most of the business sources have either closed or the people who offered have since passed away. In reality, there is no reward. Most rewards are offered for information that leads to a conviction, which, if the perpetrator were deceased, would not happen.

 

[Jen Jarvie]

If Benson was sent back to prison in 1999, then I think his DNA would have been added to the national database.

Not that a lack of a DNA match necessarily rules him out.

I've read that the police are almost certain Benson was abroad in August 1990. Unfortunately they don't seem to provide any additional details about where he was.

The police have stated he was likely to be out of the country - I'm sure if you put a lottery ticket on you are likey to win. The police do not know where Benson was on 3rd August 1990.

 

[tes1984]

There were two separate attacks by two individuals that were not together.

If you take almost any 80s or 90s murder, you'll unfortunately find dozens of sex attacks within a 25 mile radius during the proceeding fortnight.

What connects Benson to that particular part of Durham in July 1990?

 

[tes1984]

This was a combination of different sources to accumulate £50k; however, most of the business sources have either closed or the people who offered have since passed away. In reality, there is no reward. Most rewards are offered for information that leads to a conviction, which, if the perpetrator were deceased, would not happen.

I still maintain that the original reward in 1990 was £500, put up by PH.

Presumably that reward still stands.

I think the 10k reward from the Sunday People still stands too.

 

[tes1984]

The police have stated he was likely to be out of the country - I'm sure if you put a lottery ticket on you are likey to win. The police do not know where Benson was on 3rd August 1990.

I'm not sure what you mean about the lottery ticket stuff...

The police story doesn't make sense... they say Benson has never been a suspect, yet also say they've investigated him and are almost certain he was abroad in 1990.

However, regardless of a police investigation, I don't think anyone can place Benson near Darlington in 1990 or 1994. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

AFAIK Benson is more of a minor POI than a prime suspect, as he can't be placed near the crime scene, and he has no history of violence against women.

 

[tes1984]

We have about half a dozen potential vehicle sightings near Ann's home.

Either that's a lot of false memories (which is not uncommon after appeals) or the long driveway leading to the house was a popular spot for vehicles to park up that day.

 

[WiseOwl]

This was a combination of different sources to accumulate £50k; however, most of the business sources have either closed or the people who offered have since passed away. In reality, there is no reward. Most rewards are offered for information that leads to a conviction, which, if the perpetrator were deceased, would not happen.

Thanks for replying.

Did you watch the Criminal Record episode that @dotr posted on the thread yesterday? If you did, what are your thoughts on a new senior investigating officer reviewing the case - do you think a fresh set of eyes will help?

Also, what about the evidence collected at the time of the murder. Do you think that modern new technology could throw up something found at the scene, or is it a lost cause?

TIA

 

[RC80]

The offices were 3 minutes drive away and in rush hour the emergency services will have taken longer to arrive - which they did. Peter Heron rang two colleagues to be with him in a horrendous situation; nothing more than that. Peters boss was not the only alibi for the time arriving back at the office, just one of many.

Thanks for the response. I still find it odd personally that in the situation your immediate instinct after calling emergency services is to contact a colleague/friend and then ask them to go see the body before Services have turned up. Without putting words in your mouth, I would understand if the operator had advised him to contact someone who could be with him in the immediate aftermath.

Can I also ask did Peter tell the older son (RH) about their mothers death, as it was he who told AMC (Daughter) later that evening and then the 14yo son who was staying with an aunt? As a follow up, what was the scenario for their 14yo son to be staying at an Aunts house at the time?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Jen Jarvie]

It is really important not to believe everything you read in the papers. The SIO is still Craig Rudd; confirmed by the Heron's this morning. Since 1990 there have been about 10 SIO's and different review teams including Stalker; this is not uncommon for a case of this length. Anyone reviewing the informaiton will be led by6 the previous SIO report and fresh eyes are not reexamining the case but re-examining the case files. @WiseOwl you may not have seen today's Daily Record.

 

[Jen Jarvie]

Thanks for the response. I still find it odd personally that in the situation your immediate instinct after calling emergency services is to contact a colleague/friend and then ask them to go see the body before Services have turned up. Without putting words in your mouth, I would understand if the operator had advised him to contact someone who could be with him in the immediate aftermath.

Can I also ask did Peter tell the older son (RH) about their mothers death, as it was he who told AMC (Daughter) later that evening and then the 14yo son who was staying with an aunt? As a follow up, what was the scenario for their 14yo son to be staying at an Aunts house at the time?

Thanks in advance.

I'm sure this was covered within the recent media but just to clarify, Ralph Cockburn is Peter Heron's step son as is his siblings. The reasons for the housing arrangements are not relevant to the case and are not anyone's business; respect is needed for the family.

 

[dotr]

I still maintain that the original reward in 1990 was £500, put up by PH.

Presumably that reward still stands.

I think the 10k reward from the Sunday People still stands too.

2006 rbbm.

Police vow that search for murderer will go on

DETECTIVES interviewed 4,500 people, took 300 sets of fingerprints and spent 45,000 man-hours hunting the killer of housewife Ann Heron.

www.thenorthernecho.co.uk

''Mrs Heron's husband, Peter, once put up a £500 reward for information leading to his wife's killer, and in the years that followed her death, he spoke to The Northern Echo several times.

In 1995, he told the newspaper: "I believe I know my wife's killer," saying he was a local man, someone he had rubbed shoulders with every day.''

Stalker investigates: pounds 10,000 to solve a murder; YOU CAN HELP SUNDAY PEOPLE CATCH THE KILLERS. - Free Online Library

Free Online Library: Stalker investigates: pounds 10,000 to solve a murder; YOU CAN HELP SUNDAY PEOPLE CATCH THE KILLERS.(Features) by "The People (London, England)"; News, opinion and commentary General interest

www.thefreelibrary.com

''We are offering a pounds 10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of each killer in key unsolved cases nationwide.
I am drawing on my experience as the former deputy chief constable of Greater Manchester for our crime-buster series.''

''Ann Heron - her throat was slashed on August 3, 1990''
''A JOGGER was seen outside Ann's house at 5pm. Aged 30 and less than 6ft tall, he had short, dark, wavy hair and was wearing navy blue jogging bottoms on the hottest day of the year. Do you know him?
''THE letters which the killer sent. If he gloated in writing, he has almost certainly boasted about the murders elsewhere - perhaps to his family, friends and others. Have YOU heard anyone talking like that?''

 

[Jen Jarvie]

Thanks for the response. I still find it odd personally that in the situation your immediate instinct after calling emergency services is to contact a colleague/friend and then ask them to go see the body before Services have turned up. Without putting words in your mouth, I would understand if the operator had advised him to contact someone who could be with him in the immediate aftermath.

Can I also ask did Peter tell the older son (RH) about their mothers death, as it was he who told AMC (Daughter) later that evening and then the 14yo son who was staying with an aunt? As a follow up, what was the scenario for their 14yo son to be staying at an Aunts house at the time?

Thanks in advance.

Regarding calling a friend and colleague while waiting for the emergency services. Imagine finding the scene and being there alone, and I'm sure you would want someone with you - it is as simple as that and they were close and would be able to get there very quickly. There is nothing suspicious or unusual about it.

 

[dotr]

Norman Silvester 31 Jul 2025

Mum murdered 35 years ago "not killed by husband" says top investigator

A top private investigator says the husband of Ann Heron is innocent of her murder in 1990 and police should look elsewhere

www.dailyrecord.co.uk

'One of Britain's leading private investigators is convinced that Scots mum Ann Heron wasn't murdered by her husband and says police should be looking at other suspects.'

'Jen, a member of the Association of British Investigators (ABI). said: "I would not put my reputation on the line if I did not believe Peter Heron was innocent. "He has an accountable timeframe detailed down to the minute the emergency services were called. "I still believe that Benson needs to be thoroughly investigated. "Durham Constabulary do not know where he was at the time of the murder so they can't rule him out even though they say he is not suspect. "The police should keep an open mind. "No one wants this solved more than Peter Heron and his family."

 

[RC80]

Regarding calling a friend and colleague while waiting for the emergency services. Imagine finding the scene and being there alone, and I'm sure you would want someone with you - it is as simple as that and they were close and would be able to get there very quickly. There is nothing suspicious or unusual about it.

To answer both points. I understand and appreciate the family privacy, especially with regards a 14yo at the time. However, if he usually did live with his mum/stepdad then that is just another 'convenience' along with taking the long way back to the office et al.

As to walking into the house and finding my wife laying in the middle of the floor then god forbid I am never in that situation. People will/would deal with that situation in very different ways. To immediately ring a friend seems a very rational way of thinking in what would be an extremely stressful and shocking situation.

 

[WiseOwl]

It is really important not to believe everything you read in the papers. The SIO is still Craig Rudd; confirmed by the Heron's this morning. Since 1990 there have been about 10 SIO's and different review teams including Stalker; this is not uncommon for a case of this length. Anyone reviewing the informaiton will be led by6 the previous SIO report and fresh eyes are not reexamining the case but re-examining the case files. @WiseOwl you may not have seen today's Daily Record.

I haven't but thanks for the heads up!

 

[tes1984]

I'm sure this was covered within the recent media but just to clarify, Ralph Cockburn is Peter Heron's step son as is his siblings. The reasons for the housing arrangements are not relevant to the case and are not anyone's business; respect is needed for the family.

I don't agree that Ann's background/family situation isn't "anyone's business".

It's an unsolved case, and IMO it's not disrespectful to take the 'no stones left unturned' approach.

 

[tes1984]

Regarding calling a friend and colleague while waiting for the emergency services. Imagine finding the scene and being there alone, and I'm sure you would want someone with you - it is as simple as that and they were close and would be able to get there very quickly. There is nothing suspicious or unusual about it.

Was there anything unusual or suspicious about PH's behaviour after the police arrived at the house?

 

[tes1984]

Norman Silvester 31 Jul 2025

Mum murdered 35 years ago "not killed by husband" says top investigator

A top private investigator says the husband of Ann Heron is innocent of her murder in 1990 and police should look elsewhere

www.dailyrecord.co.uk

'One of Britain's leading private investigators is convinced that Scots mum Ann Heron wasn't murdered by her husband and says police should be looking at other suspects.'

'Jen, a member of the Association of British Investigators (ABI). said: "I would not put my reputation on the line if I did not believe Peter Heron was innocent. "He has an accountable timeframe detailed down to the minute the emergency services were called.

Let's see the minute by minute timeline then please...