UK UK- Joy Hewer, 50, Teacher/church volunteer, sexually assaulted & fatally stabbed in chest, apartment set on fire, Walthamstow, 17 Oct.1995 *REWARD*

[tes1984]

There's a photo of the living room on one of the true crime blogs, and the fire damage doesn't look too severe at all. I'm not sure about the fire damage in the bedroom.

Even so, it takes a lot of nerve for the perp to remain in the flat after starting a fire.

Reminds me of Colin Ireland, who did the same thing with arson, and also called the authorities to 'report' his own crimes.

 

[tes1984]

Presumably the damage from the bedroom fire wasn't too extensive either (as it doesn't seem to have spread to the living room).

If the caller was just being a good citizen, then I wonder which rooms would have been visible to him as he drove past.

 

[rvlvr]

If you Google ‘joy hewer walthamstow flat’ for images, you’ll see a photo of the living room in the search results - the fire damage doesn’t appear to be particularly extensive, which does seem to cast doubt on the caller’s claim that he could see flames. On the other hand, Joy might not have been the type of person to shut the living room curtains (my wife and I don’t and we only live on the first floor of a three storey building), and depending on where the fire was in relation to the window perhaps it was possible to see it from the road, particularly if it burned brightly in the early stages?

This is a better view of St David’s Court:

835 Forest Rd · London

maps.app.goo.gl

The living rooms are located on the east and west sides of the building - I don’t know what side Joy’s flat was located on? If the caller was indeed just a random member of the public, it’s possible they were driving east to west along Forest Road, noticed flames, continued past the building then pulled in to Fulbourne Road, from where the call was apparently made. Or, perhaps they were waiting at the traffic lights west of the building located at the Fulbourne Road - Forest Road junction, and happened to have time to look up and see something amiss.

 

[rvlvr]

Just realised I got my easts and wests mixed up in that last post but you get my drift!

Did the CCTV only capture the man entering the building? There’s a back entrance/exit (seen in the first Google maps link I posted), perhaps he left that way and that exit wasn’t covered by a camera?

 

[Konstantin]

Who Killed Joy Hewer? | The True Crime Enthusiast

It was 11:18pm on the evening of October 17th 1995, that a phone call to the London Fire Brigade would be the start of one of the most baffling and complex

thetruecrimeenthusiast.co.uk

Some photos here.

 

[rvlvr]

This definitely feels like a case that could be solved, Joy was surely targeted by someone she knew, who knew her address and who she felt familiar enough with to allow into her home. It seems likely this person was reaching out to her, but potentially she might’ve reached out to them? Either way - as I think @Konstantin suggested - it seems someone either got the wrong end of the stick or they took advantage of her. Someone must have an inkling as to who did this but short of them talking is there nothing else to go on? No prints or DNA? It’s not like the fire destroyed the entire flat.

The 30th anniversary is coming up next month, perhaps police might have something new to announce, otherwise it looks like a bit of a dead end has been reached sadly.

 

[RC80]

Funnily enough if it weren't for the change in mo I would suspect Anthony Hardy who was an alcoholic, with a personality disorder, drug related psychosis etc. To a charitable person they would be classed as very vulnerable.
He was also supposedly a devil worshipper so would this not be an attraction? A very christian and charitable women?

However aside from that mind wander, being very kind and concerned can also attract unwanted attention, I know from experience, it can be misunderstood by people with a certain mindset and they can get fixated.

I'm actually just looking into this possibility. Yes, it is different MO but is this murder the reason for the change? Maybe he didn't feel comfortable murdering elsewhere and probably vulnerable to being caught which is why he moved on to prostitutes (generally) and 'luring' victims to his flat where he could then do what he liked to them. We also have a difference from a victim stabbed here, to strangulation being the modus operandi. However, it's not unreasonable to think it could be him in the CCTV and you imagine with his alcohol and drug addictions along with mental health issues that his path may of crossed Joy's at some point having spent so much time in the area.

I know from research that he is suspected of several other murders in the area but just a lack of evidence. Wonder if this is one of them?

 

[tes1984]

Hardy was mentioned as a POI for the murder of Christine McGovern in Walthomstow, which was four months before Joy was murdered.

They looked at him for Sharon Hoare, who was murdered in Fulham in 1991.

I can think of quite a few 90s London murders he might have been considered for.

 

[Clarebear117]

Joy Hewer murder detectives offer £20k reward to solve 1995 case - BBC News

Appeal 30 years after teacher’s murder

Joy Hewer was sexually assaulted and stabbed to death in her own home.

news.met.police.uk

30 year anniversary appeal

 

[dotr]

Samantha Yule 17 Oct 2025 Snippets of lengthy article. rbbm.

https://www.thesun.ie/news/15977235/joy-brutally-murdered-flat-clue-prove-knew-mystery-killer/

''The gentle family woman is the least likely victim of such a callous killing, but was sexually assaulted and stabbed in her Walthamstow flat at around 10.30pm.''

''On the afternoon of her death, Joy had volunteered at the London Healing Mission in Notting Hill until 3.30pm. She stopped by a chemist at 5.50pm before heading home.

The last anybody heard from her was when she spoke to her brother’s son briefly on the phone at around 9.30pm. He said Joy sounded perfectly normal.''

Her family were left reeling from the savage killing, shocked that Joy had let this person into her flat at night while she was wearing her nightie. There was no sign of forced entry.

Crucially, a gut-wrenching clue showed that Joy had drank coffee with her killer, with two cups found at the scene.''

“There is no such thing as an opportunist killing when you live on the 6th floor. The flat had an intercom and CCTV at the entrance so the person must have been allowed in.

“Joy had a spy hole on her door and a chain that she always used so she would have checked who was at her door before letting them in.''

“Over the years this has had such an impact on us as a family. We do not know who we can trust. You just don’t know what anybody else knows.”

''Police recovered DNA from the scene, which they have only been able to analyse after advances in technology. Over the years they have been able to use this to eliminate suspects from the enquiry.
It has also proven the perpetrator is male.''

 

[dotr]

17 October 2025 rbbm

Police offer £20,000 reward to find teacher's killer after 30 years

Joy Hewer, 52, was sexually assaulted and stabbed to death in her own flat. Officers are using modern forensic methods in an attempt to identify her murderer.

news.sky.com

''Joy Hewer, 52, was sexually assaulted and stabbed to death in her own flat. Officers are using modern forensic methods in an attempt to identify her murderer.''

''Officers are now using modern forensic methods including advancements in DNA technology in an attempt to identify her murderer.
The teacher had visited the London Healing Mission, a Christian charity in Notting Hill, to volunteer earlier in the day.''

''He said: "A full DNA profile was recovered from the scene and we are continuing to explore all opportunities, including advancements in DNA technology.''

''She carried out voluntary work at the Centre and was seen by a colleague leaving the Mission at around 3.30pm
She headed towards Pembridge Road before visiting a chemist close to her home address in Wood Street, Walthamstow at 5.50pm''

 

[tes1984]

A full DNA profile makes things very interesting. The police will presumably be asking for DNA samples from all those who featured in the initial investigation.

 

[Konstantin]

A full DNA profile makes things very interesting. The police will presumably be asking for DNA samples from all those who featured in the initial investigation.

And comparing it to existing databases to see if anything pops up.

I really hope this will help to solve this case.

 

[rvlvr]

Agree, it’s fantastic news. And unlike in some cases where the perpetrator may have been an opportunist, it’s almost certain imo that Joy knew her killer, and we can have a good guess as to from where. So you’d think police have a lot to work with here and hopefully this doesn’t turn into another wait and see situation.