11:52 30 November 2016
Linda Smith
Archant
Suffolk detectives are appealing for information over unsolved murders in the county dating back to 1961.
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Diane Jones
Among the cold cases are at least four which featured in the national media at the time. These include Trimley teenager Vicky Hall, Ipswich mum Karen Hales, doctor s wife Diane Jones and Tattingstone suitcase murder victim Bernard Oliver. Suffolk Constabulary has pledged it will not give up on trying to get justice for murder victims whose cases have remained open for up to 55 years.
Here are some of the names and backgrounds to their cases of victims whose murders remain unsolved.
The family of 12 year old Linda Smith who was found murdered in a field at Polstead more than 52 years ago – the incident is the oldest unsolved murder that is on Suffolk Constabulary’s cold case reviews .
Linda Smith
January 16, 1961, Linda Smith left her great aunt s house in Earls Colne, Essex, to go to the newsagents. The 12-year-old did this errand most days and it would normally take her around 15 minutes for the round trip. She was seen by a number of people. Linda was also seen looking through the newsagent s window, but she did not enter the shop. A couple of minutes later she had crossed the road and was engaged in a conversation with the local cobbler. Although there were many people in the High Street Linda was never seen alive again.
On January 20, 1961 Linda s body was found in a field some 18.5 miles away in Polstead, near Hadleigh. She had been strangled with her school scarf.
Bernard Oliver
Bernard Oliver – Operation Tattingstone
Seventeen-year-old Bernard Oliver lived in Muswell Hill, London with his father and five siblings. On January 6, 1967 he left his home to spend the evening with friends but failed to return. He was reported missing by his father the following morning. There were sightings of Bernard after his disappearance in and around the Muswell Hill area of London by people who didn t know he had been reported missing.
His dismembered body was found in two suitcases in a field in Tattingstone, on January 16, 1967.
1982 file picture of Dora Pratt who died as a result of an attack at her shop in Bulstrode Road, Ipswich.
Dora Pratt
Dora Pratt ran a shop in Bulstrode Road, Ipswich, living at the premises. At about 5am on Saturday, January 9, 1982, Dora was found lying unconscious on the floor of her home. She had received three blows to the head. Dora spent several weeks in hospital before being discharged into the care of a relative but died on July 6, 1982.
It was believed that the motive was robbery. Several inches of snow had fallen overnight. Ipswich Town had been due to play Manchester United in an FA Cup tie but the game had been postponed. All of the previous afternoon s customers were traced and eliminated, with the exception of a man wearing steel-rimmed spectacles who was never found.
Murder victim Diane Jones whose body was foung at Brightwell in 1983
Diane Jones
Diane Jones was the 35-year-old wife of doctor Robert Jones living in Coggeshall, Essex. On July 23, 1983, the couple went for a drink at their local public house, leaving at about 11pm to drive to their home. Diane was last seen at the front gate to their house, having got out of the car while her husband parked it. She was not reported missing until nine days after this event, at which time Essex Police commenced enquiries.
On October 22, 1983, three months after she was last seen, Diane s body was discovered in a copse next to the A1093 road at Martlesham. Her skull was fractured.
Edna Harvey
Edna Harvey Operation Elderberry
On Tuesday, August 28, 1984, Edna Mary Ann Harvey was murdered in her home on Finchley Road, Ipswich. The 87-year-old was found by neighbours who had entered the property after seeing smoke coming from her front door. The neighbours did all they could to reach Edna but such was the smoke that they were unable to rescue her. Edna had been physically assaulted before her bed was set on fire.
Little is known about the movements of Edna during the days before her death and the general opinion at the time was this horrendous crime was a burglary that went wrong .
Jeanette Kempton, whose body was found at Wangford in February 1989
Jeanette Kempton
On February 18, 1989, the partially decomposed body of Jeanette Kempton was found in a ditch next to the B1518 road at Wangford in Suffolk. Jeanette, 32, lived in Brixton, London with her ex-husband and their two teenage sons. She was last seen on February 2, 1989.
That evening she was last seen drinking in a pub near her home in London, The Loughborough Hotel, with a man who was known to her. When Jeanette was found over two weeks later she had no personal possessions with her. The cause of death was strangulation.
Martlesham murder victim Doris Shelley, who died in February 1993
Doris Shelley Operation Valentine
Doris Shelley was an 83-year-old lady who kept herself to herself and lived alone in Martlesham. Sometime between 2pm on Wednesday, February 10, and 12.45pm on Thursday, February 11, 1993, an unknown person or persons broke into her bungalow possibly through a bedroom window. During the burglary it is believed that Mrs Shelley received blows to her head as a neighbour found her the following morning in a dazed and confused state.
Mrs Shelley was very security conscious following a previous violent robbery at her home.
File picture of Karen Hales, murdered in Lavenham Road, Ipswich, November 1993
Karen Hales Operation Lavenham
Karen Hales lived in Lavenham Road, Ipswich with her fianc and their 19-month-old daughter Emily. On Sunday, November 21, 1993 Karen, 21, was stabbed to death in her home and an attempt had been made to set her body alight. This happened with Emily present. On the day she was murdered there was at least two inches of snow on the ground and although it was not exceptionally cold, there were few people on the streets. Darkness fell around 4pm and Karen and her daughter were alone in the house, her partner having left for work earlier.
She was found shortly before 4.40pm when her parents called at the house and went in through the unlocked front door.
Murder victim Victoria Hall
Victoria Hall Operation Avon
On Sunday, September 18, 1999, 17-year-old Victoria Hall left the Bandbox nightclub in Felixstowe at around 1am with a friend to walk home. They separated at about 2.20am, close to Victoria s home, but Victoria never made it to her home in Faulkeners Way, Trimley St Mary. On Friday, September 25, 1999 a dog walker in Creeting St Peter, near Stowmarket saw what he initially thought was a dummy in a ditch. However it transpired it was Victoria s body. A suspect was arrested on December 18, 2000, who was subsequently charged with Victoria s murder.
He appeared at Norwich Crown Court in November 2001. The evidence relied heavily on the geological soil samples, a science over which both the prosecution and defence argued vociferously. The jury returned a not guilty verdict.
Major Investigation Team regularly reviews unsolved crimes
Police have stressed it is never too late for anyone to come forward with information on any unsolved murder. Detective Chief Inspector Caroline Millar said: The joint Major Investigation Team has its own team of police staff who routinely review unsolved crimes from Suffolk and Norfolk.
Using advances in forensic science such as DNA familial profiling and the experience of current and retired senior detectives, the team are looking for any development that could help our investigations, including new information from the public.
It is never too late for people to come forward with any information they think may help these inquiries. Anyone with information about any of the unsolved murders should telephone police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.