UK- Louisa Dunne, 75, SA & strangled, @ home, Bristol, 28 June, 1967, Suspect, 92, arrested 2024, * oldest cold case murder arrest in British history*

[dotr]

Louisa Dunne in 1945Credit: A&S Police

https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2024-11-19/man-92-arrested-for-murder-in-what-could-be-britains-oldest-cold-case

''Police have made what ITV News believes is the oldest cold case murder arrest in British history.

A 92-year-old man was held by detectives investigating the 1967 killing of a widow in Bristol.

The prime suspect is being questioned on suspicion of the murder and rape of Louisa Dunne who was found dead at her home in Britannia Road, Easton.

Despite a large police inquiry which lasted years, her killer evaded justice.

But detectives say a breakthrough in recent weeks has led them to make this arrest.''

Ninety-one officers were part of the inquiry. In total 8,000 people were interviewed and officers took 1,320 statements.

A palm print was found on a wall near Mrs Dunne’s window.

''Within days, detectives decided to take the palm prints of every man in Easton aged between 16 and 60. It was a monumental task involving a team of 20 officers checking what they thought would be 5,000 men.

''The murder of Louisa Dunne appalled Bristol. The twice-widowed pensioner was a well-known figure in the Easton neighbourhood and was often seen walking to the shops in her black velvet coat and shawl.''

''A neighbour found her dead in the front room of her house on 28 June 1967. She had spent the previous evening at a friend’s home nearby.''
'A post mortem concluded she had been strangled and sexually assaulted.'

Man, 92, arrested over murder and rape of woman in Bristol in 1967

Louisa Dunne, 75, was found dead in her home in Easton by a neighbour, in June 1967. She had been strangled and raped.

news.sky.com

 

[dotr]

19 November 2024

Pensioner, 92, arrested on suspicion of murder and rape in 1967 case

The man, from the Ipswich area of Suffolk, has been taken into custody following forensic examination of items relating to the case.

www.dailymail.co.uk

''The man, from the Ipswich area of Suffolk, has been taken into custody following forensic examination of items relating to the case.''

The man, from the Ipswich area of Suffolk, has been taken into custody following forensic examination of items relating to the case. Pictured: Police outside the Bristol home in 1967

'The Neighbourhood Policing Team are carrying out patrols of the area, so please speak to an officer if you have any worries or concerns.

'As this investigation is at a critical phase and to protect the integrity of any future criminal proceedings, we won't be able to confirm the full details, but we are absolutely committed to continue carrying out a thorough investigation to try and bring Louisa's relatives the answers they've waited a lifetime for.'

 

[dotr]

Arrest made in 1967 murder investigation | Avon and Somerset Police

Louisa Dunne, 75, was found dead in her home in Britannia Road, Easton, by a neighbour on Wednesday 28 June, 1967.

www.avonandsomerset.police.uk

''Officers re-investigating the 1967 murder of Louisa Dunne in Bristol have made an arrest.

This morning (Tuesday 19 November), a 92-year-old man from the Ipswich area of Suffolk was arrested by officers from Avon and Somerset Police on suspicion of murder and rape, and he’s been taken into custody for questioning.

The arrest follows a significant development in the investigation which resulted from a review of the case, which began in 2023. The review included further forensic examination of items relating to this case.

Louisa, 75, known as Louise, was found dead in her home in Britannia Road, Easton, by a neighbour on Wednesday 28 June, 1967. The cause of her death was determined to be strangulation and asphyxiation. She had also been raped.''

DI Dave Marchant said: “This is an extremely significant moment in an appalling and distressing case which has remained unsolved for almost six decades.

“We’ve identified and spoken to Louisa Dunne’s next of kin to update them on this development and specialist family liaison officers will now be supporting them – to keep them updated on the progress of our investigation but also to ensure they get access to any specialist support they may need. ''

 

[LadyL]

I wonder if the suspect was a neighbour.

 

[MadeleineMaxwell]

So the arrested man would have been around 35 at the time of the murder, I wonder if he knew her? The article says she kept herself to herself. Maybe a burglary gone wrong? If this person is the killer it would be interesting to know his history between then and now.

 

[Skigh]

Ninety-two-year-old man charged with rape and murder of woman

Pensioner Ryland Headley, of Clarence Road, Ipswich, was arrested on Tuesday morning in connection with the killing of Louisa Dunne in 1967.

www.dailymail.co.uk

ninety-two-year-old man charged with rape and murder of woman strangled to death 57 years ago.

Pensioner Ryland Headley, of Clarence Road, Ipswich, was charged by detectives overnight.

 

[trendsetter]

Man, 92, charged with Bristol woman's 1967 rape and murder

The 92-year-old man has been remanded into custody ahead of an appearance before a judge.

www.bbc.co.uk

Ryland Headley, of Clarence Road, Ipswich, appeared before magistrates via video link and was remanded into custody ahead of an appearance at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday.

DI Dave Marchant said: “"Now criminal proceedings are under way it’s important to stress the defendant has the right to a fair trial.

"Any speculation or misinformation on the circumstances of this case has the potential to prejudice these ongoing proceedings."

 

[tes1984]

Very interesting that there's been an arrest, but I'm not sure it's the oldest UK cold case arrest.
Serial killer David Burgess was caught via DNA in 2012, for the 1966 murder of Yolande Waddington.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

By the oldest cold case arrest, I wonder if they mean how many years til an arrest.
This one took 57 years to arrest someone.

 

[dotr]

Man, 92, charged with Bristol woman's 1967 rape and murder

The 92-year-old man has been remanded into custody ahead of an appearance before a judge.

www.bbc.com

Ryland Headley appeared via video link at Bristol Magistrates' Court on Wednesday

 

[Kittypoo]

By the oldest cold case arrest, I wonder if they mean how many years til an arrest.
This one took 57 years to arrest someone.

There’s a few of these cold cases coming to a conclusion following DNA advances. Watched the case of Lynette White yesterday from 1988. UK.

 

[dotr]

Nov 20, 2024 rbbm

Cold Case Of 1967 Bristol Murder Finally Solved

A landmark development has come to light in one of the oldest cold cases from the UK, as authorities have arrested a 92-year-old man charged with the shocking murder…

evrimagaci.org

''The historic arrest of Headley marks the first time the police have apprehended someone nearly sixty years after the crime was committed—an achievement hailed by investigators as “a watershed moment” for cold case investigations.''

''Many hope this case might inspire similar investigations of cold cases, perhaps paving the way for other unsolved matters to come back to life. People frequently question how many other victims await justice. With each new technological advancement, hope glimmers for the families of unsolved mysteries. The tragic saga of Louisa Dunne's life and death, now rekindled, is not merely about seeking justice for the individual but serves as a necessary reminder of the collective responsibility to seek the truth and uphold justice, no matter how long it takes.''

 

[Deleted member 296739]

Wow, so long for a family to wait, hopefully this brings some closure and peace…

 

[Yellowbelly]

Arrest made in 1967 murder investigation | Avon and Somerset Police

Louisa Dunne, 75, was found dead in her home in Britannia Road, Easton, by a neighbour on Wednesday 28 June, 1967.

www.avonandsomerset.police.uk

''Officers re-investigating the 1967 murder of Louisa Dunne in Bristol have made an arrest.

This morning (Tuesday 19 November), a 92-year-old man from the Ipswich area of Suffolk was arrested by officers from Avon and Somerset Police on suspicion of murder and rape, and he’s been taken into custody for questioning.

The arrest follows a significant development in the investigation which resulted from a review of the case, which began in 2023. The review included further forensic examination of items relating to this case.

Louisa, 75, known as Louise, was found dead in her home in Britannia Road, Easton, by a neighbour on Wednesday 28 June, 1967. The cause of her death was determined to be strangulation and asphyxiation. She had also been raped.''

DI Dave Marchant said: “This is an extremely significant moment in an appalling and distressing case which has remained unsolved for almost six decades.

“We’ve identified and spoken to Louisa Dunne’s next of kin to update them on this development and specialist family liaison officers will now be supporting them – to keep them updated on the progress of our investigation but also to ensure they get access to any specialist support they may need. ''

If the police are specifically mentioning that they've forensically re-examined items relating to the case, it sounds like they've found some sort of DNA match, which wasn't a science that anyone was even dreaming of in 1967.

 

[Yellowbelly]

Very interesting that there's been an arrest, but I'm not sure it's the oldest UK cold case arrest.
Serial killer David Burgess was caught via DNA in 2012, for the 1966 murder of Yolande Waddington.

That's 44 years. If West Yorkshire police could have got to the point where they could have put Peter Pickering in front of a judge before he died, that would have been 53 years. I can't think of any case in the UK where the gap between crime and arrest has been as long as 57 years.

Murder of Elsie Frost - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Kasmeer]

Wow, what a long gap, well done to the police for getting this to court after so long, and it's great that the accused is actually still alive to be charged, hopefully he'll live long enough to reach trial and let Louisa's family get answers and justice for her now. If he's guilty, he really must have thought he'd got away with it after so long, I look forward to hearing what it was that led to him now, maybe DNA samples on clothing or similar?

 

[Deleted member 296739]

I so admire the tenacity of cold case investigators!

 

[dotr]

Wow, what a long gap, well done to the police for getting this to court after so long, and it's great that the accused is actually still alive to be charged, hopefully he'll live long enough to reach trial and let Louisa's family get answers and justice for her now. If he's guilty, he really must have thought he'd got away with it after so long, I look forward to hearing what it was that led to him now, maybe DNA samples on clothing or similar?

Rbbm,

Ipswich man arrested over 1967 murder of Louisa Dunne in Bristol

Police say it follows a "significant development" in the investigation into who killed Louisa Dunne.

www.bbc.com

''Avon and Somerset Police said it started reviewing the case, including further forensic examination of some items, in 2023, and a man from Ipswich was taken into custody on Tuesday morning.
The force said the arrest follows a “significant development in the investigation".

 

[Endeavour75]

It's incredible to think that someone in 2024 could be arrested for the murder of someone who would have been born in 1891/92.

 

[Deleted member 296739]

It's incredible to think that someone in 2024 could be arrested for the murder of someone who would have been born in 1891/92.

Wow! That’s mind boggling!!