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

[tes1984]

yes, true!

did someone say they looked at all the realty visitors?

They tried to find everyone who viewed or worked on the house, but the recent announcement suggested that not all of them may have been DNA tested.

 

[tes1984]

This is what I wonder because I do believe it could have been an after thought to throw off what the real motive was and since its been suggested it could have been broken from the inside to make it seem like a burglary but if that is the case then how exactly did he get in the house in the first place?

Just smahing a window would be an afterthought, but he brings and uses a specific device to cut the glass, so must have considered the idea beforehand.

 

[Cedars]

When did he cut the glass/break the window?

Before he had Janet restrained, whilst she lay helpless, or after the murder?

Was it before, during or after?

Thinking it through, I can't believe it was done after the glass was smashed. There would be no conceivable reason to then attempt to enter by cutting.

So, either the cutting was done before entry, it didn't work so the glass was smashed for the actual break in

OR if the killer wanted to stage a break in (because they actually knew Janet, but wanted it to appear a stranger-killing), then I think it would have been done after Janet had been killed (when they could concentrate on it), but again, they gave up and decided to just smash glass.

Now: why not smash the pane with the glass cutting marks? Apparently the adjacent window was smashed, not the one carefully incised.

To me, this indicates staging...

If they tried cutting the glass, and gave up, wouldn't it be easier to smash the single layer of glass that had already been cut into...?

Whereas, if the glass cutting was done to mislead police, then makes more sense to leave it as evidence of a burglary and smash a different pane to stage entry.

One strategy is about efficiency and covering up your tracks, the other is inefficiency in the service of misleading police...

JMO

 

[HollyHunter9]

I really hope they find this offender soon poor Janet had an horrific death and deserves justice.
The book confirmed that the offender laid on top of her for sometime so this really does seem like a sexually motivated crime led on for the humiliation and fear aspect.

Do you have a link to the book please? I'd be really interested to read it.

I agree, I think burglary should be completely ruled out. They may have been trying to make it look like a burglary with the elaborate glass cutting, etc.

I agree totally with this. I find it odd the police are still insisting on it as a main theory. They took handcuffs with them which shows intent towards restraining someone, nothing was stolen and the alarm blaring did not deter them at all. I really think this is someone who knew full well those alarms were not connected to police or alarm company. This person knew janet and also knew the home and home layout. (They took glass cutting equipment knowing they would have to cut through glass door, if it was random burgler who sneaked round the back to break they could of expected any type of door, wood, pvc...but this intruder was prepared to cut glass!)

If they tried cutting the glass, and gave up, wouldn't it be easier to smash the single layer of glass that had already been cut into...?

This is what I wondered too? The whole glass cutting part is most puzzling. How hard would it be to do? Would you need experience? What about glass cutting tools? Can they be traced? Also why didn't they break the single pane of glass? Surely that would be easier? I can't stop thinking about this case. It really is strange and quite terrifying when you think about what janet probably went through.

 

[Diddian]

Thinking it through, I can't believe it was done after the glass was smashed. There would be no conceivable reason to then attempt to enter by cutting.

So, either the cutting was done before entry, it didn't work so the glass was smashed for the actual break in

OR if the killer wanted to stage a break in (because they actually knew Janet, but wanted it to appear a stranger-killing), then I think it would have been done after Janet had been killed (when they could concentrate on it), but again, they gave up and decided to just smash glass.

Now: why not smash the pane with the glass cutting marks? Apparently the adjacent window was smashed, not the one carefully incised.

To me, this indicates staging...

If they tried cutting the glass, and gave up, wouldn't it be easier to smash the single layer of glass that had already been cut into...?

Whereas, if the glass cutting was done to mislead police, then makes more sense to leave it as evidence of a burglary and smash a different pane to stage entry.

One strategy is about efficiency and covering up your tracks, the other is inefficiency in the service of misleading police...

JMO

IIRC, this was a three-door system, with perhaps one operational door and two stationary (or one center stationary door and two operational doors either side of that center door). So, maybe the perpetrator originally attempted to cut an opening large enough to pass his body through the glass of the center stationary door and finding that too time-consuming or difficult, opted to smash through a smaller area of the glass of the operational door to pass only his hand through to reach that door’s latch to unlock and open it.

If so, it seems likely the perpetrator wanted it to appear to investigators he was professional at entry through glass cutting (perhaps as he imagined professional cat burglars might be), but he was so bad at it, he gave up and just went for standard smash and entry.

 

[forensicswannabe]

Do you have a link to the book please? I'd be really interested to read it.

I agree totally with this. I find it odd the police are still insisting on it as a main theory. They took handcuffs with them which shows intent towards restraining someone, nothing was stolen and the alarm blaring did not deter them at all. I really think this is someone who knew full well those alarms were not connected to police or alarm company. This person knew janet and also knew the home and home layout. (They took glass cutting equipment knowing they would have to cut through glass door, if it was random burgler who sneaked round the back to break they could of expected any type of door, wood, pvc...but this intruder was prepared to cut glass!)

This is what I wondered too? The whole glass cutting part is most puzzling. How hard would it be to do? Would you need experience? What about glass cutting tools? Can they be traced? Also why didn't they break the single pane of glass? Surely that would be easier? I can't stop thinking about this case. It really is strange and quite terrifying when you think about what janet probably went through.

Hi yeah its here https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00CEYK9YM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_d_asin_title_351_o02?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I bought it on kindle so i could read it right away its page 412 onwards thats all to do with the Janet Brown case.

 

[Cartie]

Why stage a robbery but not steal anything. So strange

 

[HollyHunter9]

Hi yeah its here https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00CEYK9YM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_d_asin_title_351_o02?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I bought it on kindle so i could read it right away its page 412 onwards thats all to do with the Janet Brown case.

Thanks so much!

 

[HollyHunter9]

Why stage a robbery but not steal anything. So strange

Exactly! I really do not believe it was robbery.

 

[skylersymmer]

i also don't really know burglars operate lol but I am local to the case and it's a very small road and the house is set back with only fields behind. It's not an easy place to stalk/stake out without being really obvious, you only would go there with intention. You couldn't even stop your car close without drawing attention. It does make me think this was someone who knew the house, although cannot exclude perspective buyers / anyone with access to the house plans which greatly increases suspect pool

 

[tes1984]

i also don't really know burglars operate lol but I am local to the case and it's a very small road and the house is set back with only fields behind. It's not an easy place to stalk/stake out without being really obvious, you only would go there with intention. You couldn't even stop your car close without drawing attention. It does make me think this was someone who knew the house, although cannot exclude perspective buyers / anyone with access to the house plans which greatly increases suspect pool

PB mentions a dip in the field, which couldn't be seen from the ground floor of the house. The killer might have been able to stake out the property from there.

Sunset was around 7.45pm, so from about 8pm the killer would have been under cover of darkness. I reckon he arrived there around 8pm, and entered the property around 8.15pm.

 

[Konstantin]

Just smahing a window would be an afterthought, but he brings and uses a specific device to cut the glass, so must have considered the idea beforehand.

If so, it seems likely the perpetrator wanted it to appear to investigators he was professional at entry through glass cutting (perhaps as he imagined professional cat burglars might be), but he was so bad at it, he gave up and just went for standard smash and entry.

I think he smashed the glass later, to simulate a burglary, rather than to force an entry into the house. He knew someone was in the house -- at least one person. He also most likely knew Janet even if she didn't know him (if he had stalked the house or her beforehand). He knew there was no man in the house.

This was not a burglary gone wrong, it was staged to look like one however ineptly and the police believed that staging at first. Janet's killer spent quite a long time with her and was in the house for what, two hours?

 

[Cedars]

i also don't really know burglars operate lol but I am local to the case and it's a very small road and the house is set back with only fields behind. It's not an easy place to stalk/stake out without being really obvious, you only would go there with intention. You couldn't even stop your car close without drawing attention. It does make me think this was someone who knew the house, although cannot exclude perspective buyers / anyone with access to the house plans which greatly increases suspect pool

Thanks so much for joining and bringing your local perspective, it's much appreciated!

 

[HollyHunter9]

i also don't really know burglars operate lol but I am local to the case and it's a very small road and the house is set back with only fields behind. It's not an easy place to stalk/stake out without being really obvious, you only would go there with intention. You couldn't even stop your car close without drawing attention. It does make me think this was someone who knew the house, although cannot exclude perspective buyers / anyone with access to the house plans which greatly increases suspect pool

Thanks so much for this local insight. Its really helpful! From the photos of the house I've seen online it doesnt look like you would be able to see that that the external doors are, glass even from a dip in the field? You'd have to be able to see over the wall into the courtyard area? I've attached photos to show what I mean.

Links to both media articles the photos came from are here -

DNA breakthrough in hunt for brutal murderer

The brutal murder of a nurse found gagged, handcuffed and beaten to death 20 years ago today (Friday) is being reinvestigated after new DNA evidence…

www.bucksfreepress.co.uk

Police reveal new DNA breakthrough in 20-year-old cold-case murder

Janet Brown, pictured, was beaten with an iron bar and left for dead at her home in Radnage, near Chinnor in Buckinghamshire on April 10, 1995. Mrs Brown had been beaten to death with an iron bar.

www.dailymail.co.uk

I also note the daily mail article specifies the intruder brought a wheel glass cutter.

 

[Cedars]

Here's a closer pic of the patio doors - seems like the middle pane is gone...

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

 

[Cedars]

Thanks so much for this local insight. Its really helpful! From the photos of the house I've seen online it doesnt look like you would be able to see that that the external doors are, glass even from a dip in the field? You'd have to be able to see over the wall into the courtyard area? I've attached photos to show what I mean.

Links to both media articles the photos came from are here -

DNA breakthrough in hunt for brutal murderer

The brutal murder of a nurse found gagged, handcuffed and beaten to death 20 years ago today (Friday) is being reinvestigated after new DNA evidence…

www.bucksfreepress.co.uk

Notice the tent in that Bucks Free Press article you've linked: they must have found something in the back...

I wonder if we've misread the info and the window that was smashed was nearby, but not the same patio door...?

 

[tes1984]

Notice the tent in that Bucks Free Press article you've linked: they must have found something in the back...

I wonder if we've misread the info and the window that was smashed was nearby, but not the same patio door...?

I think the tent was an operations centre for the forensic team, rather than a specific site of interest.

 

[CGMK]

If builders were called to prepare for a house move, it's possible that other local contractors, such as tradespeople, handymen, and gardeners, were also invited to provide quotes. If so, were any of these individuals asked for to speak to?

I can't help now thinking of Neil Maxwell considering his job was house maintenance in Buckinghamshire... likely his DNA not collected yet in 1995 probably would have been mid 20's then.. I am unsure of the full extent of his criminal record. (Leah Croucher case) So assume though would have flashed up on database.

 

[Diddian]

Thanks so much for this local insight. Its really helpful! From the photos of the house I've seen online it doesnt look like you would be able to see that that the external doors are, glass even from a dip in the field? You'd have to be able to see over the wall into the courtyard area? I've attached photos to show what I mean.

Links to both media articles the photos came from are here -

DNA breakthrough in hunt for brutal murderer

The brutal murder of a nurse found gagged, handcuffed and beaten to death 20 years ago today (Friday) is being reinvestigated after new DNA evidence…

www.bucksfreepress.co.uk

Police reveal new DNA breakthrough in 20-year-old cold-case murder

Janet Brown, pictured, was beaten with an iron bar and left for dead at her home in Radnage, near Chinnor in Buckinghamshire on April 10, 1995. Mrs Brown had been beaten to death with an iron bar.

www.dailymail.co.uk

I also note the daily mail article specifies the intruder brought a wheel glass cutter.

That trio of glass doors looks fairly private inside that walled courtyard, as others have mentioned. I haven’t seen a floor plan, but it looks like the tall two-storied part of the home (with white exterior) with the glass doors at main level might be kitchen, eating, and living areas on first level since kitchen and eating areas would tend to be near an outdoor eating area like that courtyard. I’d guess that master bedroom is on second level of the other (brick-sided) part of the home. So, I'm guessing that the entry point was some distance from master suite.

I think it likely the perpetrator had visited the home before and knew that this entry was some distance from bedrooms and was also protected from view of onlookers, so his entry would be unobserved and likely not heard by the victim in the bedroom.

I like to see everything that is known at one time. So, I am summarizing other things that have been disclosed (all gathered from posts here in this thread - except items in blue are my comments). Would appreciate anyone letting me know if I've gotten something wrong:

• Home break-in and attack upon victim, Janet Brown (51 years old), occurred night of April 10, 1995.
• Home was in the Chiltern Hills near Radnage in Buckinghamshire, UK. Home was large as was the property, in a fairly rural area.
• Victim had trained as nurse and midwife and worked as a research nurse at Oxford University's Public Health and Primary Care Department and at John Radcliffe Hospital.
• Victim was alone, although typically her mid-teen daughter, Roxanne, also lived there.
• Two of the family member's cars were in the driveway of the home that night.
• Two adult children did not live there anymore. Elder daughter, Zara lived and worked in London. Son, Ben was away at university.
• Victim’s husband, Grahaem Brown, lived and worked a long distance away (Switzerland) but called regularly.
• Home was for sale and there may have been a pending sale dependent on meeting certain conditions. (We do not know the couple's plans for where they planned to move after the sale.)
• A builder was doing some work on a building on the property.
• Victim had briefly left the home in her vehicle around 6:30 pm.
• Mid-teen daughter had a driving lesson earlier in the day.
• Mid-teen daughter and a friend had planned to have a sleepover in the home that night, but there was a change in plans made early in the day and the daughter called the victim to inform her of the change. The friend’s mother asked them to sleepover at the friend’s house instead as she was a new driver and the mother didn’t want her driving that far with so little experience.
• A friend of the daughter had called at 8:10 pm. (We don't know if this friend was male or female.)
• When the victim spoke with her daughter that evening, victim told her daughter that she planned to go to bed early.
• When the husband called the home around 8:30 pm, the call was not answered.
• Victim was found by the builder when he arrived the following morning and discovered the interior alarm sounding.
• Victim was found on first floor at the bottom of the stairs leading up to bedroom(s).
• Victim was naked except for a necklace and earrings.
• Victim's body had not been sexually assaulted.
• Victim’s hands were handcuffed behind her.
• Victim had been gagged with packing tape. (If the victim was known to be alone, why gag her? There was already an external alarm sounding for at least the first 20 minutes of home invasion/possible attack and an internal alarm sounded until the victim was discovered. So, why gag to prevent screams that are not likely to be heard?)
• Victim had been brutally beaten around the head with something like a crowbar (something that a perpetrator might have handy in his vehicle) and died as a result of those injuries.
• Perpetrator had used a wheel glass cutter and tape in an attempt to create a large opening in a glass door and had smashed through a smaller opening on adjacent door.
• There was more broken glass found around exterior side of door than interior side.
• Break-in triggered a home security system that sounded both an external alarm and an interior alarm. The system was not connected to a security monitoring service or to LE, so no outside security personnel were notified of the tripped alarm. (Had this system always been like this, or recently changed? If always, it is likely this would be known by family members, possibly by close neighbors and family friends, and by the installer of the system. It also seems reasonable to assume it was known by real estate agents with whom the home was listed or any that had shown the home to prospective buyers. It may also have been known by the builder working on a building on the property.)
• External alarm was designed to continue for 20 minutes before stopping. Internal alarm was still sounding when the victim was found upon the builder's arrival the following morning.
• LE was able to collect some DNA from the scene and has tested some individuals that have been eliminated from suspicion.

 

[CGMK]

When she went out at 6.30 was anybody able to establish where.. or where she likely might have gone?