UK UK - Diane Jones, 35, Coggeshall, Essex, murdered 23 July 1983

[Pinkizzy]

Diane Jones

Diane Jones was last seen alive at her home in Coggeshall, Essex, on 23 July 1983. She was later reported missing and her body was found in Martlesham three months later.

www.suffolk.police.uk

 

[dotr]

[ATTACH type="full" alt="Diane Jones
Brightwell Murder Scene October 1983"]343398[/ATTACH]
Diane Jones Brightwell Murder Scene October 1983
Oct. 2020 rbbm.

Martlesham/Coggeshall: New details emerge in Diane Jones murder case 30 years after her death

Today on the 30th anniversary of one of Suffolk’s most infamous unsolved murders new details have emerged about the night Diane Jones...

www.eadt.co.uk

''The doctor’s wife was around two months pregnant at the time of her disappearance on July 23, 1983. She was found dead in a copse in Brightwell, near Martlesham, three months later.''

''During the media coverage that followed it emerged Mrs Jones had been seen arguing with her husband on the night of July 23. At the time the pair, who lived at Lees Farm, Coggeshall, were in a pub in the small Essex market town.

Thirty years on further light has been shed on what is alleged to have been said during the argument via a Suffolk Constabulary report on the case obtained by this newspaper.


The Major Crime Current Position Report reads: “During the evening Diane asked to be taken out and at about 10.20pm they went to the Woolpack public house, Coggeshall (approximately one mile from Lees Farm). In the Woolpack Diane was described by some witnesses as drunk.

“Soon after being seated at the bar Diane fell off a stool backwards and had to be helped up.''

“At closing time Diane refused to leave the public house and said to Dr Jones ‘I’m not going home with you, you’ll beat me up’.

“Dr Jones then put his dog, and Diane’s brown handbag, in his car and returned for Diane.

“She refused to leave and had to be manhandled and carried to the door by Dr Jones. He then allegedly put her over his shoulder and carried her from the pub.


“What happened after the couple left the Woolpack Public House remains in dispute.”

''It was reported the 41-year-old and Mrs Jones – his third wife – had been on verge of separating when she went missing.''

 

[IslandGirlTC]

Diane was last seen at the front gate to their house, having got out of the car whilst her husband parked it. She was not reported missing until nine days after this event, at which time Essex Police commenced enquiries.

I wonder who reported her missing and why it took so long to report it. There is a photo in the article of where she was found taken in 2014.

Source: Diane Jones (Suffolk Constabulary)

Beaters on a pheasant shoot found her body in a wood in Brightwell, near Martlesham, Suffolk, on October 22.

Mrs Jones, who was two months pregnant, had multiple skull fractures. Police believed she had been battered with a spiked hammer shortly after she went missing, but the weapon was not found.

Source: New appeal over doctor's wife murder 27 years ago

 

[kadman]

Seems like the husband was extensively interviewed, but we'll just have to see what eventuates.

Diane Jones murder; NIGHT House Dr Jones shaving Dr Robert Jones...

Diane Jones murder; NIGHT House Dr Jones shaving Dr Robert Jones interview SOT Church SOT

www.gettyimages.co.nz

 

[IslandGirlTC]

There's quite a bit of original 80s news coverage I found on newspapers.com. I'm still gathering clippings.

 

[kadman]

There's quite a bit of original 80s news coverage I found on newspapers.com. I'm still gathering clippings.

i wasn't aware of that site. i bet it's interesting, although it's a bit pricey for me

 

[IslandGirlTC]

i wasn't aware of that site. i bet it's interesting, although it's a bit pricey for me

Yes, it's very interesting and helpful. But expensive. I don't have too much longer in my subscription.

 

[Pinkizzy]

Essex- Part 1- The Life of Diane Jones | The Outlines Podcast: UK True Crime

In this two part investigation into the life and death of Diane Jones, Jess Carter looks at the disappearance and murder of 35 year old pregnant housewife Diane Jones. Vanished from the gates of her driveway on the evening of July 23rd 1983, doctor's wife Diane's body was discovered three months...

theoutlinespodcast.podbean.com

 

[Pinkizzy]

Essex- Part 2- The Murder of Diane Jones – The Outlines Podcast: UK True Crime – Podcast

In this two part look into the life and death of Diane Jones, Jess Carter looks at the disappearance and murder of 35 year old pregnant housewife Diane Jones. Vanished from the gates of her driveway o... – Listen to Essex- Part 2- The Murder of Diane Jones by The Outlines Podcast: UK True Crime...

podtail.com

 

[shadwell]

Several early press articles with a good amount of background and additional details on the Outlines Podcast main Diane Jones page - well worth a look:

Diane Jones

Diane Jones, a 35 year old housewife was two months pregnant when she vanished late in the evening of July 23rd 1983 from the gates of her luxury house in Coggeshall, Essex. She was gone in the ti…

theoutlinespodcast.com

 

[shadwell]

Plus a few press photos from the time: RJ, the pub, house, surgery, girlfriend etc.

52 "diane Jones" Stock Pictures, Editorial Images and Stock Photos | Shutterstock Editorial

Find "diane jones" stock photos in HD and millions of other editorial images in the Shutterstock collection. Thousands of new, high-quality pictures are added every day.

www.shutterstock.com

Trying to ID the house location - it doesn’t seem to fit with the “Lee’s Farm” (with apostrophe) which Google maps returns - curious as to whether there may have been a phone box nearby.

EDIT: Found it - on the old Colchester Road, just inside the bypass:

51°52'21.1"N 0°42'19.4"E · 29 Colchester Rd, Coggeshall, Colchester CO6 1RP, UK

29 Colchester Rd, Coggeshall, Colchester CO6 1RP, UK

www.google.co.uk

 

[Pinkizzy]

It looks like it was a through road before the bypass - anyone could have taken her.

 

[shadwell]

It looks like it was a through road before the bypass - anyone could have taken her.

I’ve just been looking at this - the Coggeshall bypass opened in July 1983 (a month before DJ’s disappearance):

A120 - Roader's Digest: The SABRE Wiki

www.sabre-roads.org.uk

The house is visible from the bypass and there’s (currently at least) a cut through from the house, so it’s not impossible that she could have walked out to the bypass and been picked up by a passing car. That said, she could equally have walked towards Coggeshall, as there’s no indication from RJ that he made any effort to look for her.

 

[shadwell]

That said, I’m not seeing anything so far that’s pulling me away from the widely held view regarding this case - in terms of motive, it looks like things were coming to a head with regard to DJ’s pregnancy (see image below). A possible scenario might be that DJ tells NG he is the father on the 22nd, then phones him again on the evening of the 23rd to inform him that she is going to tell RJ. She asks to be taken out to the pub specifically because she fears how RJ will react and wants to be in a public place when she tells him.

From the articles I’ve seen there’s no mention of NG being questioned by police, but my current feeling is that he would have important information to share.

 

[Pinkizzy]

RJ was having an affair at that time too

 

[shadwell]

RJ was having an affair at that time too

HB? Already going on for a few months prior to DJ’s disappearance?

 

[Pinkizzy]

I don't know. RJ and DJ were as bad as each other - 2 failed marriages each and numerous affairs.

 

[Pinkizzy]

One of the articles on the Outlines site states that the landlord of the Woolpack knew about DJ's disappearance on the Sunday (July 24th)

 

[shadwell]

Another haul of clippings:

Clippings - Newspapers.com

Explore clippings of newspaper articles, obituaries, marriage announcements, local news and archives at Newspapers.com

www.newspapers.com

 

[IslandGirlTC]

Okay, finally finished gathering these and putting them into a timeline. The Lady in the podcast wasn't kidding, The media went nuts over this case. Due to age some of these are a little hard to read.

Photos of police Diver, RJ and DJ - The Daily Telegraph Sat, Aug 06, 1983 · Page 3

Police To Examine Car Sold By Doctor - The Guardian Tue, Aug 09, 1983 · Page 4

Picnic Spot Hunt For Doctor's Wife - Evening Post Wed, Aug 10, 1983 · Page 1

Missing Wife's Lover's Sought By Police - The Daily Telegraph Thu, Aug 11, 1983 · Page 3

Doctor Takes A Break - Liverpool Echo Fri, Aug 12, 1983 · Page 1

Doctor's Trip - Evening Standard Fri, Aug 12, 1983 · Page 5

I Did Not Kill Her! - The Sunday People Sun, Aug 21, 1983 · Page 1

Doctor Quizzed Again - Sunday Telegraph Sun, Aug 21, 1983 · Page 1

BMA Bars Tip-Offs In Hunt For GP's Wife - The Daily Telegraph Sat, Aug 27, 1983 · Page 3

Missing Wife's Bag Is Found - The Daily Telegraph Tue, Aug 30, 1983 · Page 1

Doctor Takes A Bike Ride To Paradise - The Sunday People Sun, Sep 11, 1983 · Page 3

Roadside Dig For Body - The Daily Telegraph Tue, Sep 20, 1983 Page 1

"Aid Hunt For Killer" Plea By Financier - The Daily Telegraph Thu, Oct 06, 1983 · Page 3

Riddle Over Murder Victim - Liverpool Echo Mon, Oct 24, 1983 · Page 3

Diane: Body In Wood Mystery - Evening Post Mon, Oct 24, 1983 · Page 3

Body Sparks Switch In Hunt - Evening Post Mon, Oct 24, 1983 · Page 1

Body In The Wood "Is My Daughter" - Evening Standard Mon, Oct 24, 1983 · Page 5

Battered Body "May Be Wife Of Doctor - The Guardian Tue, Oct 25, 1983 · Page 5

Police Search Doctor's House - Evening Standard Tue, Oct 25, 1983 · Page 2

Doctor Faces New Quiz Over Wife - Evening Standard Wed, Oct 26, 1983 · Page 11

Diane: Club Joins Hunt For Murder Weapon - Evening Post Sat, Oct 29, 1983 · Page 3

My Violent Affair With Wife - Sunday Mirror Sun, Oct 30, 1983 · Page 2

Doc's Helper - The Sunday People Sun, Dec 04, 1983 · Page 2

Doctor Denies Romance - The Journal Mon, Dec 05, 1983 · Page 2

Driving Ban On Doctor Jones In Drink Case - The Daily Telegraph Thu, Dec 15, 1983 · Page 6

Doctor Jones Questioned Again - The Journal Fri, Feb 10, 1984 · Page 2

DPP Has No Case Against Doctor - The Guardian Fri, Apr 06, 1984 · Page 3

Doctor Not To Face Dead Wife Charge - The Guardian Fri, Apr 06, 1984 · Page 1

Grim Ordeal Goes On For Doctor Jones - Sunday Mirror Sun, Apr 08, 1984 · Page 5

Diane Will Lie In Peace - Sunday Mirror Sun, Apr 15, 1984 · Page 15 (misspelling was in headline)

New Ban On Death Probe Doctor - Wed, Apr 18, 1984 · Page 2

RJ's behaviour does seem a bit off. Why would you feel the need to sell a car while your wife is missing??? Also don't the families of missing people usually appreciate media coverage keeping there loved one's case in the public eye? Yet RJ runs from it and seems annoyed by it. Going so far as to leave the country to get away from it. That in itself seems odd to me. Going on all these "vacations" instead of actively working on trying to find Diane. She was only missing at that point. Some of his actions just don't make sense to me.