UK UK - Hannah Deterville, found murdered, Horsenden Hill, 2 Jan 1998

S4JKins

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  • #1
Hannah Deterville was stabbed to death at an unknown location and later dumped in woodlands on Horsenden Hill.

She had been stabbed 20 times in the neck and face, although she had not been sexually assaulted or had any of her jewellery or money taken.

She was found partially hidden in the woodland about three weeks after she went missing. It was thought that she had been murdered within 12 hours of going missing but that her body had been kept for several days before being dumped in the wooded area. The police said that it would have taken at least two people to have carried her body there.

Horsenden Hill was noted as a cruising ground for gay people and her body was first reported anonymously to the Gay and Lesbian Switchboard. However, the police said that they were unable to trace the caller.

She was last seen by her mother at around 7pm on 2 January 1998. She had lived on the Harrow Road in Queens Park, between Paddington and Harlesden. Her body was found on 27 January 1998.

It was said that she was street smart enough to not get in a car with a stranger and it was thought that she might have got into a car with someone that she knew.

She had been wearing jeans, a grey bomber jacket and red Reebok trainers.

The investigation into her murder was called Operation Maidstone.

Her mother had been a director of the Yaa Asantewaa community centre and would help out with the floats for the Notting Hill Carnival for which Hannah Deterville was said to have been a regular. Hannah Deterville was also said to have been well recognised on the Harrow Road and on first name terms with many of the shopkeepers.

Throughout the investigation, five people were arrested, but no one was charged.

Hannah Deterville was a student at the St Thomas More Catholic school in Chelsea where she was studying for her GCSE exams.




Hannah Deterville - Unsolved Murder 1998 - Horsenden Hill, Greenford - Hannah Deterville Unsolved Mysteries UK
 
  • #2
 
  • #3
Hannah Deterville was stabbed to death at an unknown location and later dumped in woodlands on Horsenden Hill.

She had been stabbed 20 times in the neck and face, although she had not been sexually assaulted or had any of her jewellery or money taken.

She was found partially hidden in the woodland about three weeks after she went missing. It was thought that she had been murdered within 12 hours of going missing but that her body had been kept for several days before being dumped in the wooded area. The police said that it would have taken at least two people to have carried her body there.

Horsenden Hill was noted as a cruising ground for gay people and her body was first reported anonymously to the Gay and Lesbian Switchboard. However, the police said that they were unable to trace the caller.

She was last seen by her mother at around 7pm on 2 January 1998. She had lived on the Harrow Road in Queens Park, between Paddington and Harlesden. Her body was found on 27 January 1998.

It was said that she was street smart enough to not get in a car with a stranger and it was thought that she might have got into a car with someone that she knew.

She had been wearing jeans, a grey bomber jacket and red Reebok trainers.

The investigation into her murder was called Operation Maidstone.

Her mother had been a director of the Yaa Asantewaa community centre and would help out with the floats for the Notting Hill Carnival for which Hannah Deterville was said to have been a regular. Hannah Deterville was also said to have been well recognised on the Harrow Road and on first name terms with many of the shopkeepers.

Throughout the investigation, five people were arrested, but no one was charged.

Hannah Deterville was a student at the St Thomas More Catholic school in Chelsea where she was studying for her GCSE exams.




Hannah Deterville - Unsolved Murder 1998 - Horsenden Hill, Greenford - Hannah Deterville Unsolved Mysteries UK
Has anyone got any information?
 
  • #4
Hi, This is very close by to Horsenden Hill. I think like Hannah Deterville, Penny knew her killer.
 
  • #5
Has anyone got any information?

In 1998, the serial killer David Smith was working as a mini cab driver in London.

Smith had links to the Paddington area, murdered by stabbing/mutilation, and dumped one of his victims at a beauty spot.

Regarding Horsenden Hill, Smith was a voyeur who enjoyed hiding in woodland at cruising spots to watch people have sex.
 
  • #6
Police suspect two offenders because of the distance Hannah's body was carried.

David Smith was 6 ft 3 and 18 stone (115 KG) so I wonder if he was strong enough to have carried Hannah such a distance on his own.
 
  • #7
She wasn't raped or robbed. So there were personal motives.
 
  • #8
She wasn't raped or robbed. So there were personal motives.

You may well be correct, but I wouldn't completely rule out a stranger murder with a sexual motive. Not all sexually motivated murderers commit or even attempt rape.

From what we know of his crimes, it does seem quite unlikely that someone like David Smith would commit murder without stripping his victim, attempting rape etc.
 
  • #9
She wasn't raped or robbed. So there were personal motives.

I think that in order to maintain public support, the police appeals gave the impression that Hannah was a typical 15 year old schoolgirl.

However, the truth may have been far more disturbing.

IIRC from the age of 14 Hannah was staying overnight with 'older boyfriends'. I presume that doesn't mean 16 year olds from the local sixth form college.

I'm not sure if Hannah's mum knew about this, or if Hannah sometimes pretended to be staying with female school friends, or something like that.

You really have to wonder about the backgrounds and personal motives of men who target 14/15 year olds and convince them to stay overnight with them...
 

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