UK UK- Janet Brown, 51, research nurse, found nude, gagged, handcuffed & bludgeoned to death, @ home, Buckinghamshire,10 April '95, *DNA, new initiative*

[dotr]

If the house alarms going off received a response from police or any neighbours, would they also be targeted in some sort of ambush by the perp, is that what he hoped for? speculation, imo.

 

[forensicswannabe]

What if the Killer is one of her neighbours? And he smashed the window to make it look like a burglary because he knew that in the area at the time there had been a number of those happening?

 

[Diddian]

Most of the items the killer brings with him could be carried in a coat or jacket. I'm not sure how big the glass cutter was though.

I suspect the killer had some kind of bag with him, but doubt he would want to escape on foot with the additional weight of a TV or video. I think unplugging the devices was staging, but interestingly there's no mention of diluted blood on the TV pr video leads (like there was on several light switches).

Again wondering if the murder was recorded in some way, maybe requiring extra electrical outlets to plug into, so tv/video player was unplugged? speculation.

Janet Brown: Bound and Brutalized in her own home

A mysterious woman meets a mysterious end.

mysteryconfidential.medium.com

''NOTHING FROM THE HOUSE WAS STOLEN but it was noted that the television and video player were unplugged (suggesting an attempt at removal). This was noticed by the Brown children. However this may be an intentional mislead.''
View attachment 581143
Mr and Mrs. Brown

I think you’re right that the unplugging of tv and video may have been to gain an outlet for plugging in recording equipment of some kind.

And when I think of that in combination with two other facts - the victim was naked except for a heavy necklace, earrings, watch, and ring AND her ankles had been bound with tape that was subsequently removed - I begin to develop a theory:

Perhaps after breaking in, capturing, handcuffing, and binding the victim, (possibly undressing her), and dressing her in jewelry that has some significance to him, he unbound her ankles so he could spread her legs in preparation for either a sexual attack OR for recording a prolonged tormenting or humiliation of her he realized he needed to plug his recording equipment in, and the victim used that opportunity and her freed ankles to grab handcuff keys the perp had placed nearby, run downstairs, and to press the panic button.

And so - alarm sounding - the perpetrator chased her and beat her around the head to death with something he brought with him (a crowbar) or something he grabbed nearby (a fireplace poker or something else). Then, he quickly cleaned himself up and went back to the bedroom to collect what he’d left there before leaving (thus the diluted blood on the light switches). He may have never succeeded in plugging his equipment in or he may have yanked their cords out of the outlet, so no diluted blood found on the outlet (if that is so).

 

[TheRockingRev]

I think you’re right that the unplugging of tv and video may have been to gain an outlet for plugging in recording equipment of some kind.

And when I think of that in combination with two other facts - the victim was naked except for a heavy necklace, earrings, watch, and ring AND her ankles had been bound with tape that was subsequently removed - I begin to develop a theory:

Perhaps after breaking in, capturing, handcuffing, and binding the victim, (possibly undressing her), and dressing her in jewelry that has some significance to him, he unbound her ankles so he could spread her legs in preparation for either a sexual attack OR for recording a prolonged tormenting or humiliation of her he realized he needed to plug his recording equipment in, and the victim used that opportunity and her freed ankles to grab handcuff keys the perp had placed nearby, run downstairs, and to press the panic button.

The TV and Video that were unplugged were downstairs I believe.

And so - alarm sounding - the perpetrator chased her and beat her around the head to death with something he brought with him (a crowbar) or something he grabbed nearby (a fireplace poker or something else). Then, he quickly cleaned himself up and went back to the bedroom to collect what he’d left there before leaving (thus the diluted blood on the light switches). He may have never succeeded in plugging his equipment in or he may have yanked their cords out of the outlet, so no diluted blood found on the outlet (if that is so).

 

[Diddian]

The TV and Video that were unplugged were downstairs I believe.

Out of curiosity - and recognizing that sources of information are very limited, before I toss my theory in the circular file, can you point me to the basis for that belief?

 

[TheRockingRev]

Out of curiosity - and recognizing that sources of information are very limited, before I toss my theory in the circular file, can you point me to the basis for that belief?

I will need to read through the various articles to find it, but did read that it was downstairs near to where she was found.

 

[HollyHunter9]

because she had the television on in her bedroom.

Do you mind me please asking if there is article with this info as I've not come across it before. Thankyou. But it would make sense as to how she perhaps did not hear the glass cutting.

Also as someone else mentioned up thread to cut through glass takes time (which is why they probably eventually gave up) but it means if the break in was 8.10 they likely started quite a while before that which would still be light. It's so brazen! Has to be someone who knew the area and how secluded the house was, and that the alarms didn't really alarm anyone.

I've also had a thought about the police still insisting on their burglary gone wrong theory. I'm wondering if this is on purpose to annoy the killer into making contact...I'm thinking there was something in those anonymous phonecalls that made police think it was the killer and from what little info I've read online about them...the caller was insisting that a burgler would never carry out a home invasions in that way. So perhaps the killer/caller was irritated that they were being labelled as a bumbling burgler instead of a sadistic killer (BTK would get annoyed when police got things wrong about his crimes and would write letters to them or the media scolding them or correcting them for inaccuracies, he thrived off the notoriety of it all).

 

[TheRockingRev]

Do you mind me please asking if there is article with this info as I've not come across it before. Thankyou. But it would make sense as to how she perhaps did not hear the glass cutting.

Also as someone else mentioned up thread to cut through glass takes time (which is why they probably eventually gave up) but it means if the break in was 8.10 they likely started quite a while before that which would still be light. It's so brazen! Has to be someone who knew the area and how secluded the house was, and that the alarms didn't really alarm anyone.

One thing I'm not sure of is has it been established if the cutting of the window was to actually get through, or just to put a hand through to unlock the door?
If the latter I would've thought a crowbar to force the lock would've been more simple.

I've also had a thought about the police still insisting on their burglary gone wrong theory. I'm wondering if this is on purpose to annoy the killer into making contact...I'm thinking there was something in those anonymous phonecalls that made police think it was the killer and from what little info I've read online about them...the caller was insisting that a burgler would never carry out a home invasions in that way. So perhaps the killer/caller was irritated that they were being labelled as a bumbling burgler instead of a sadistic killer (BTK would get annoyed when police got things wrong about his crimes and would write letters to them or the media scolding them or correcting them for inaccuracies, he thrived off the notoriety of it all).

It's really strange - on one hand I'm drawn to the fact that the killer thought he would stage what would look like a burglary, but by what he did it completely rules it out as a burglary gone wrong.

However if it was someone who just wanted to sadistically kill someone, then it does make it point, IMO, that Janet was somehow more than a random target. There would be surely easier targets. A lot of effort, and potential risk, was put into going to this particular house.

 

[tes1984]

IIRC the stuff about Janet possibly watching TV in her bedroom was from a press conference.

I find it interesting that the crime takes place on a Monday evening. Probably the worst time for a burglar to choose if he wants the property to be empty.

 

[HollyHunter9]

One thing I'm not sure of is has it been established if the cutting of the window was to actually get through, or just to put a hand through to unlock the door?
If the latter I would've thought a crowbar to force the lock would've been more simple.

The hole was big enough for a person to fit through...which again is odd and not what I think a burgler would do (I think like you mentioned that usually it would be a hole big enough to fit a hand to undo a lock)

They believe the killer struck between 8.15pm and 10.15pm on the night Janet was murdered - seemingly breaking in by using a glass cutting wheel to make a man-sized hole in the patio doors.

Cops reveal DNA breakthrough in murder of mum-of-3 nurse 25 years ago

POLICE have revealed a new DNA breakthrough which could solve the murder of nurse Janet Brown who was battered to death 25 years ago. Detectives are using familial DNA to search for a relative with…

www.thesun.co.uk

 

[tes1984]

If the killer binds Janet's ankles with tape (which is at some point removed) then why is there no mention of her wrists also having been bound with tape at some point in proceedings?

 

[HollyHunter9]

If the killer binds Janet's ankles with tape (which is at some point removed) then why is there no mention of her wrists also having been bound with tape at some point in proceedings?

Didn't they use hand cuffs for her hands?

I agree with what someone upthread said that tape was used on her ankles and then removed so her legs could be posed sexually. Otherwise why not use tape for both hands and ankles? The handcuffs I think were for BDSM purposes. IMO.

 

[tes1984]

Didn't they use hand cuffs for her hands?

I agree with what someone upthread said that tape was used on her ankles and then removed so her legs could be posed sexually. Otherwise why not use tape for both hands and ankles? The handcuffs I think were for BDSM purposes. IMO.

But  if he found the handcuffs in the dressing room, then why hadn't he already bound Janet's wrists with tape before he went off searching there?

It's a bit of luck for a murderous BDSM fan to happen to find some handcuffs in such a situation.

On the other hand, it's very weird for a killer to brings handcuffs with two spare keys (and seemingly manage to lose both of them).

 

[tes1984]

I think that after 30 years, unsolved UK murder and serial rape cold cases should be put forward for the sorts of searches they allow in the USA.

I reckon this might provide a fair balance between civil liberties and justice.

 

[Hustling01]

I think that after 30 years, unsolved UK murder and serial rape cold cases should be put forward for the sorts of searches they allow in the USA.

I reckon this might provide a fair balance between civil liberties and justice.

with how useless our govt is i doubt things will change

 

[TheRockingRev]

But  if he found the handcuffs in the dressing room, then why hadn't he already bound Janet's wrists with tape before he went off searching there?

It's a bit of luck for a murderous BDSM fan to happen to find some handcuffs in such a situation.

On the other hand, it's very weird for a killer to brings handcuffs with two spare keys (and seemingly manage to lose both of them).

I don't think there was any sign of ransacking, so for a killer to spend time searching for handcuffs is too far fetched. It's not like they are a staple in most houses (as far as I know). The only thing I could think of is that the killer knew they were there and therefore wanted to use them. Highly unlikely IMO.

Not really. Most lockable devices come with two keys, usually on the same fob. Losing them is either just down to confusion or more likely why would they need them? The handcuffs were left on her.

 

[TheRockingRev]

IIRC the stuff about Janet possibly watching TV in her bedroom was from a press conference.

I find it interesting that the crime takes place on a Monday evening. Probably the worst time for a burglar to choose if he wants the property to be empty.

Also there wasn't even anything to draw peoples attention. It's often said crimes take place when there's a big football match etc. because people will be at home / pubs watching. But on that night there was nothing.

 

[tes1984]

I don't think there was any sign of ransacking, so for a killer to spend time searching for handcuffs is too far fetched. It's not like they are a staple in most houses (as far as I know).

The killer opened a few cupboards and a cabinet.

If the handcuffs were in Janet's dressing room (as her husband suggested) then maybe the killer could have found them in Janet's jewellery box.

 

[tes1984]

Also there wasn't even anything to draw peoples attention. It's often said crimes take place when there's a big football match etc. because people will be at home / pubs watching. But on that night there was nothing.

A Monday night would be a good choice for an offender who didn't want his car to be spotted nearby. Probably a quiet night in terms of police patrols too.

If the killer had a car, then he must have parked a fair distance away, otherwise wouldn't the neighbour who heard the alarm have seen an additional vehicle parked up?

 

[Oakie]

Highly unlikely IMO. Professional hits in the UK aren't actually that common outside of gangland. It's not that easy to set something like that up here for regular people.
Also if it was, this was highly bodged - why the tape, the jewellery, being in a house with an alarm ringing for possibly 2 hours? Guns aren't that easy to come by in the country, but if it was a paid hit then it would've been by someone who was involved in that sort of activity. They would more than likely have access to firearms (even if it was a shotgun) so why not a shooting at the front door or at the front of the house? Hell, even a stabbing at the front door.
The torture and prolonged agony they put her through was something the killer had to experience as part of it - and they weren't afraid to get caught by hanging around the house with an alarm ringing. It wasn't IMO just a murder for money - that sort of killer would've got in and out.

What if the torture was specified in the contract? Someone wants a stable, middle-aged woman to suffer....really suffer...it may be traceable to a relative with a grudge, no? Especially considering that she lived outside a rural village....it just seems that there would be very little likelihood of attracting the attention of a random psychopath.