UK UK- Susan Ovens, 27, Sidney Hickling, 27 & Dolphus Smith, 57, fatally shot, Rushden, 24 Nov 1981

[dotr]

Police search 39 years on to find who shot three people in caravan
''Northamptonshire Police continue to appeal for information for a series of murders that happened more than three decades ago today.

Susan Ovens, aged 27, Sidney Hickling, aged 27 and Dolphus Smith, ages 57, were all murdered on November 24 in 1981. They were shot at close range in their caravans in Ditchford Road, Rushden.''

 

[sonz82]

Thanks for posting, this case has been on my mind for years (personal reasons)

Central News East: 24.11.1988: Unsolved Gypsy Murders

I found this article, it mentions photos but there are none posted.

Peter Sharpe is the owner of a local caravan business. I'm guessing the caravan came from Peters shop. (White Arches)

 

[sonz82]

Ditchford road/lane. No caravans there now though. Only a lake.

 

[dotr]

Looking for some photos and more news coverage, apparently there was a documentary about the case somewhere, will look around.
Central News East: 24.11.1988: Unsolved Gypsy Murders
''Summary
Simon Harris report about the continuing search for the murderer of three travellers whose bodies were found at Ditchford Lane near Wellingborough in November 1981.
Year:
1988
Duration:
0:02:14
Film type:
Colour / Sound
Genre:
Television News
Company:
Central Television
Master format:
Betacam SP''
''Interview with Chief Superintendent Peter Sharpe about the on-going investigation into the murder of Susan Ovens, Dolphus Smith and Sid Hickling. Shot of Peter Sharpe walking into police station. B/w stills of Sid Hickling, Susan Ovens and Dolphus Smith. Library shots of a police reconstruction carried out in 1984. Library shot of police incident room. Library pictures of other unsolved Northamptonshire murders - Percy Francis at Rushden in August and Stacey Darlington and her family in a house fire in Northampton in 1987.''

 

[sonz82]

Just noticed that Peter Sharpe was the detective in charge of this case... and not the caravan dealer. Thats a bizarre coincidence

 

[Condorman]

Thanks for posting, this case has been on my mind for years (personal reasons)

Central News East: 24.11.1988: Unsolved Gypsy Murders

I found this article, it mentions photos but there are none posted.

Peter Sharpe is the owner of a local caravan business. I'm guessing the caravan came from Peters shop. (White Arches)

This has also been actively in my mind for years too as I can remember seeing Susan only a few days before,(also for personal reasons)

 

[sonz82]

This has also been actively in my mind for years too as I can remember seeing Susan only a few days before,(also for personal reasons)

Did you know her well?
My mum knew her too, from what she told me they were good friends

 

[Condorman]

Did you know her well?
My mum knew her too, from what she told me they were good friends

Yes I did as susan was my cousin, Its also very sad what also happened to her sister a few years earlier

 

[Tim@Time4Justice]

Hi @sonz82
I wonder if you would be interested in having a chat?
I am setting up a charity to raise funds and advocate for victims and families of unsolved murders, locally initially and then once a little more established, across the country.
Currently setting up the website and Facebook page so I can then do the legal and red tape stuff.
I'm looking to speak to family and friends of the victims of this case and other (Percy Francis, John Reynolds and Sarah Benford) to find out more about them as individuals, and more about the last known contact they had with people, close and otherwise. I hope to raise money to help fund new searches, investigations, advertising and social media campaigns, but most importantly of all, bring truth and justice to the victims and their loved ones.

 

[ctaylor]

Yes I did as susan was my cousin, Its also very sad what also happened to her sister a few years earlier

Just checking newspaper archives for anything on this case and noticed in 1984 that Susan's sister Sarah was stabbed to death. This was a few years later but assume that's who you mean? Sorry I realise I'm quoting this post about 18 months later but do you know if anyone was convicted for Sarah's murder? Could find no later update after this article from the Sunday Sun to say they were wondering if Sarah's murder was linked to the 3 murders in 1981 as part of a "gipsy feud" (obviously a dated term). Article said a man was helping with enquiries.

 

[Tim@Time4Justice]

Thanks for that! I did see in a thread that a sister had passed away. I had no idea in such a way though!
This needs a deeper dive too then!