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

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

I mean, Dawn, Debbie, it’s splitting hairs isn’t it - we know who he means. And my point is that in relation to the question you were asked earlier, if people had listened to his interview they’d have known that you guys had met.

Do you have any thoughts re the letters?

Re Dawn v Debbie... was it to protect the identity of the person?

 

[Jen Jarvie]

Re Dawn v Debbie... was it to protect the identity of the person?

No, just inaccurate. Dawn was Ann's best friend. The main point is that there were numerous inaccuracies in the podcast, so I cannot recommend that anyone listen to it. If it is wrong it is wrong and would only lead armchair detectives down a false route.

 

[Jen Jarvie]

Thanks. Was it PH himself, or his mistress, who eventually confessed to the affair?

Both

 

[rvlvr]

Re Dawn v Debbie... was it to protect the identity of the person?

No, Debbie - PH’s daughter - has been very vocal about the case. I think he just misspoke.

Genuinely curious as to what these other inaccuracies are as the only two you’ve cited, Jen, are completely irrelevant to the case.

 

[Jen Jarvie]

On the afternoon in question, do you know why Ann Marie didn't visit her mother? I know she was supposed to see her mom that day, but i don't know why it was cancelled.

Nothing specific - just changes of plans on both parts

 

[Jen Jarvie]

No, Debbie - PH’s daughter - has been very vocal about the case. I think he just misspoke.

Genuinely curious as to what these other inaccuracies are as the only two you’ve cited, Jen, are completely irrelevant to the case.

I agree, but there are other media outlets that clarify the correct facts. There are too many to mention on here, and they can be checked against the information already out there. I have just cited two obvious ones. It is important in a case that the minute detail is correct as well as the important things.

If there are objections to me stating it is incorrect, then I'd advise listening to it - but I am stating for the record that the podcast is full of inaccuracies.

 

[rvlvr]

I don’t really want to labour the point but if Ralph’s interview was riddled with inaccuracies which might have a detrimental impact on one’s understanding of the case then I’d have thought it might be worth mentioning them because, of the two you’ve mentioned, one is a name that any armchair sleuth could easily make sense of, and the other is quite an odd choice as it involves a misunderstanding re your studies at the time that the two of you met, which I’m sure is something of little importance in the grand scheme of things to Ralph, nor is it remotely relevant to the case.

For anyone who wants to understand Ann’s early life, her relationship with PH, and how the Cockburns have dealt with Ann’s murder, I’d suggest it’s an absolutely vital listen.

 

[WiseOwl]

Nothing specific - just changes of plans on both parts

Thanks again.

What plans did Ann change that day then? The reason i ask is because i have always thought that whoever killed Ann had some knowledge of both her and Mr Heron's plans/schedule for that day.

I think whoever the perp was, they knew exactly the right time to strike while Ann was home alone.

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

No, just inaccurate. Dawn was Ann's best friend. The main point is that there were numerous inaccuracies in the podcast, so I cannot recommend that anyone listen to it. If it is wrong it is wrong and would only lead armchair detectives down a false route.

Thanks for clarification. It's shabby behaviour to make such an error isn't it? I would disregard things with errors like that too.

 

[Jen Jarvie]

I don't want anyone to assume things are correct if they are wrong - this just confuses things. If they are wrong I will point this out - no matter who it offends. There are things I can make public and there are things as I can not but false information is not helpful at all. If I'm sure it is wrong I will say. - not everything reported is correct.

 

[rvlvr]

Thanks for clarification. It's shabby behaviour to make such an error isn't it? I would disregard things with errors like that too.

The son of the victim misremembering a name is not ‘shabby behaviour’, nor is it remotely relevant whether Jen was studying or had completed her studies when he met her - this post is a really poor look.

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

The son of the victim misremembering a name is not ‘shabby behaviour’, nor is it remotely relevant whether Jen was studying or had completed her studies when he met her - this post is a really poor look.

Oh... I misunderstood and thought it was the journalist who mis-stated the name, that's why I thought it was maybe to protect people (ie not the son of the victim getting the name wrong). In that regard I was trying to say the journalist is not engaged with detail and therefore their whole summary is unreliable. However, I was mistaken, apologies.

 

[rvlvr]

I don't want anyone to assume things are correct if they are wrong - this just confuses things. If they are wrong I will point this out - no matter who it offends. There are things I can make public and there are things as I can not but false information is not helpful at all. If I'm sure it is wrong I will say. - not everything reported is correct.

It’s bordering on the ‘offensive’ because of the two mistakes you’ve mentioned, one (harmlessly) relates to a fact about yourself and your studies, and with great respect your educational record isn’t pertinent to this case.

If there are errors in Ralph’s interview that relate to *Ann’s murder* you should state them, otherwise I think we should move on.

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

This question won’t go away - PH said in 2015 that “police insisted that I could not account for a full two hours of my day on … the day of Ann’s murder.” But in the same article he sets out his timeline and says:

That is wrong. I had lunch with Ann at 1pm and returned to the office at 2pm. At about 3pm I received a telephone call from a client, Cleveland Bridge, who asked me to attend his office to discuss a contract my company was tendering for. As requested by him, I left the office shortly after 3pm and made the short journey to Cleveland Bridge and was in front of the client and two of his colleagues by about 3.15pm. I left the meeting at about 4.30pm and returned to the office via Croft and through Middleton St George village arriving back in the office at 5pm, returning home at 6pm to find Ann dead on our living room floor. Each and every step of my movements as I’ve described are corroborated by witness statements in Durham Constabulary’s own prosecution bundle of ‘evidence’ presented to my solicitor.

If PH’s movements can be accounted for ‘minute by minute’ then what are police playing at? Do they just not trust the witnesses?

 

[Spoof]

It’s bordering on the ‘offensive’ because of the two mistakes you’ve mentioned, one (harmlessly) relates to a fact about yourself and your studies, and with great respect your educational record isn’t pertinent to this case.

If there are errors in Ralph’s interview that relate to *Ann’s murder* you should state them, otherwise I think we should move on.



This question won’t go away - PH said in 2015 that “police insisted that I could not account for a full two hours of my day on … the day of Ann’s murder.” But in the same article he sets out his timeline and says:



If PH’s movements can be accounted for ‘minute by minute’ then what are police playing at? Do they just not trust the witnesses?

There's clearly a difference between what is being put into the public domain and what police believe and have. The police won't be able to put everything in the public domain so we can't take what PH says with any weight, especially considering he's previously lied.

 

[rvlvr]

There's clearly a difference between what is being put into the public domain and what police believe and have. The police won't be able to put everything in the public domain so we can't take what PH says with any weight, especially considering he's previously lied.

The issue for me is - as I said the other day - even if you think PH might not be being truthful, JJ has seen the documentation and has repeatedly verified what PH has said about his whereabouts. I just don’t believe she’d lie, so on this I’m happy to take her word for it.

 

[WiseOwl]

Police hope new tech will catch Darlington woman's killer after 35 years

In a bid to tackle one of County Durham most infamous murder cases, detectives are now using new cutting edge technology to review the case.

www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk

Thirty-five years on, detectives are using new forensic technology as part of their review of the case and items recovered from her home. They are also still keen to hear from anyone who might know something about the incident or that day, but never reported it.

Detective Superintendent Craig Rudd from Durham Police, 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. I hope this appeal on the 35-year anniversary of Ann Heron’s murder will jog someone’s memory. 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.''

 

[dotr]

01/08/2025

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 appeal for information ahead of the 35th anniversary of the murder of Ann Heron who was killed in her Darlington home.

The mother-of-three had been sunbathing in her garden at Aeolian House, on the A67, on the afternoon of Friday, August 3, 1990.

However, at around 6pm that evening, the 44-year-old’s body was discovered in her living room lying in a pool of blood.

''Despite an extensive police investigation, which spanned several years and has been subject to significant review, her killer has never been found.

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''

 

[Spoof]

The issue for me is - as I said the other day - even if you think PH might not be being truthful, JJ has seen the documentation and has repeatedly verified what PH has said about his whereabouts. I just don’t believe she’d lie, so on this I’m happy to take her word for it.

Just to clarify, I'm not accusing anyone of lying (only what we know to be true which is that PH has lied). She may well be reiterating what PH is saying, I am simply questioning PH's honesty not anyone who repeats it.

 

[Spoof]

Re-post, Ann's case is the first one featured.

Oct 16, 2018
Nick Ross and Sue Cook present. Cases include the murder of Ann Heron in Darlington, County Durham, an armed robbery in Tankerton, Kent and the attempted murder of Jo Chandler as she walked through North Yorkshire.

Thanks for posting this. I think you may have reposted it due to my request for the "appeal" video but I wasn't very clear (sorry abut that) as I was referring to when PH did a press conference on TV, shortly after the murder, to appeal for witnesses. I'm sure he did one through I may be wrong.

Thanks anyway.

 

[rvlvr]

Just to clarify, I'm not accusing anyone of lying (only what we know to be true which is that PH has lied). She may well be reiterating what PH is saying, I am simply questioning PH's honesty not anyone who repeats it.

The thing is, while you’re right that police will be holding plenty back from the public, as I understand it the Herons - and JJ - have access to the files, because when PH was charged police had to provide the family and PH’s legal team with all the relevant information (from memory, PH’s daughter Debbie discusses this in the Channel 5 documentary).

So it’s not simply a case of JJ believing and repeating what she’s been told by PH, she’s saying she’s seen the witness statements and any other relevant documentation and in her eyes it stacks up.