It is frustrating that the Wales Online story of Saturday 7 November states the police have D.N.A. The hardest part then was actually finding the materials," he told the documentary. This true crime happened in Penllegaer Woods on the outskirts of Swansea in 1946. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. I contacted D.S. "That sounds pompous, but I knew that really he was a simpleton, but I didn't detect any menace in him.". But Muriel, who was known locally as 'The Little Nightingale' because of her beautiful singing voice, never made it home. Two other specific persons of interest have been put forward. Over 20,000 men were interviewed about the crime . I really appreciate your local insights. Police believe 12-year-old Muriel Drinkwater might have been a victim of a notorious serial killer when she was raped and murdered in 1946. Advertisement. However, what happened to Jones once he left Wandsworth jail in December 1941, aged 35, remains a mystery. I live on the land of penllergaer woods and I have some information that I think u would like to hear.. how can I get in contact with u to chat.? You will need a male dna profile from a decendent on harold joness family tree. Video, 00:01:28, The 'smart suit' that is changing children's lives, View from the cockpit of a Ukraine combat helicopter. There are, of course, other theories regarding who was lying in wait on that fateful day. It was believed a similar weapon had been used in the murder of a cinema manager in Bristol. It was the 75th anniversary this year, and still we are no nearer to finding her killer. We got a partial profile, given that it was the oldest cold case with a semen stain on it that we had been working on.". Read about our approach to external linking. Fingers crossed that one day a DNA match can give us the breakthrough needed to solve this case. The Photo Request has been fulfilled. 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[8], Last edited on 11 February 2023, at 09:11, List of unsolved murders in the United Kingdom, "Marwolaeth merch yn parhau'n ddirgelwch", "The Muriel Drinkwater case: can they crack the coldest murder case? The killer was dubbed Jack The Stripper because of the way he left his victims. She was singing on the school bus with her friends, on the afternoon of June 27, 1946, when she was dropped on the side of the road near her family's farm on the outskirt of Swansea. Evernote. The 73-year-old stain was discovered during a cold case review in 2003 and is thought to be one of the oldest pieces of evidence in the world. [8] A description of a person of interest was circulated; he was described as approximately 30 years old, with "thick fluffy hair and wearing brown corduroy trousers and a light brown sports jacket. Wife of James Anthony Drinkwater and mother to Carole Suzanne, Stephen Mark, Simon Anthony and Russell John Drinkwater. "We had access to the files and identified that a semen stain had been found on the coat. Forensic historian Nell Darby found similarities in the case of Muriel Drinkwater and the later Ronnie Harries farmhouse murders in old newspaper articles from the time. Detective Chief Inspector Mark Lewis, head of the South Wales Polices Specialist Crime Review Unit announced to the press in May 2019: The results of the forensic examination categorically confirm that Jones was not responsible for the murder of Muriel Drinkwater. "Each case is reviewed periodically," he adds. Happier times: Alex Murdaugh, Maggie and their sons are the picture-perfect family in never-before-seen photos taken on a hunting trip just a few years before brutal slayings, 'Why isn't he being prosecuted?' They visited the Carmarthen bookshop to identify if the killers family had taken the books there. She disappeared around the bend into some more dense undergrowth. Drinkwater, a 12-year-old schoolgirl, was raped and shot in the woods in Penllergaer, Swansea. Another witness came forward to tell the team that Ronnie Harries had worked on a farm in Penllergaer, evidence that was supported from a newspaper cutting at the time. He clearly wasn't very bright, and there's evidence that you see of overkill with Muriel Drinkwater's case as well.". In the days and weeks that followed, police officers visited every farmhouse and cottage within 150 square miles, along with interviewing 20,000 men in Swansea, Aberdare and Carmarthenshire. On June 27, 1946, 12-year-old Muriel Drinkwater made her way home from school in Penllergaer, Swansea (UK). I wonder if there was a sketch done when Hoyles confronted a man weeks earlier. We could see it [had been] in a police station, but as it closed, where did it go next? In 1946, 12-year-old Muriel Drinkwater was murdered in the woods of Swansea, Wales. Up Next. We know 100% that it is the killer's stain. Now, a team of former detectives and crime experts have re-investigated the case, dubbed the 'Little Red Riding Hood murder', and have uncovered a new prime suspect. Another wait and see. Dubbed the 'Little Red Riding Hood murder', the 12-year-old had been killed amongst the undergrowth at Penllergaer Woods whilst on her way home from school one June afternoon. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Hard to work out the logic of your comment Charlotte? Detective Chief Inspector Mark Lewis, head of the Specialist Crime Review Unit said: 'The results of the forensic examination categorically confirm that Jones was not responsible for the murder of Muriel Drinkwater. Hi Neil. Nevertheless, local legend tells of how, after leaving prison, he'd return to his parents' house in Abertillery from time to time, where the sound of him playing the organ in their front room would haunt the terraced streets. [5], Muriel Joan Drinkwater was the youngest of four daughters born to John Percival and Margaret (ne Morgans) Drinkwater. I personally think whoever did it was a true psychopath and he would probably of done something like it before and has done other crimes since. Video, 00:00:41Watch Kate beat William in spin class endurance race, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. Thanks again for sharing this. In 2008,Detective Chief Inspector Paul Bethell located Muriels blue coat, underwear, and school uniform in police storage. There is no doubt about that.". Her body was eventually found in a nearby lane, but it was the discovery of her handkerchief in the shops shed which saw Jones accused and stand trial for her death. And police now hope a stain on Muriel's coat will. Filmed as part of documentary Dark Land: Hunting the Killers, that is being shown on BBC Wales, the name of murderer Ronnie Harries, the last man to have been hanged in Carmarthen, has been put forward by the team that is headed by the former chief constable of Dyfed Powys Police Jackie Roberts. Thank you Christine. Victor said that the programme had made him suspicious as to whether Florences killer Harold Jones who had been released from a 20 year prison sentence in 1941 for the Abertillery murders was responsible for 12 year-old Muriel Drinkwaters death. On this occasion he was rude to me claiming that he knew nothing about any information sent to South Wales Police from D.C. Paul Rogers. 0, Hi Tracey Thanks for reading and for sharing your thoughts on Muriels case. He died at that address in 1971. Birth: 16 Jan 1878: Request number 772/21. It was the first time he had spoken publicly about the tragedy that haunts his family to this day. Positive reviews really help others find our show. Investigators now allege theyve identified her murderer. Muriel was murdered 16 years before I was born, but it was a story I had heard from a young age. Fifteen days later, Jones murdered 11-year-old neighbour Florence Little too, hiding her body in the attic of his parents' home. Please let us know how it goes. Advertisement. Why on earth would the police continue to stonewall after all these decades? Yet, despite their exhaustive enquiries - not to mention the discovery of the gun used in Muriel's shooting - the culprit managed to evade justice. On July 7, 1946, eleven-year-old Sheila Martin was raped and strangled in woods near her home in Dartford. This seems like a dubious connection because there is roughly 230 miles (370 kilometres) between Dartford and Penllergaer,but on the day of Sheilas murder a large race meeting was held at Brands Hatch with over 9,000 attendees, one of whom could have been both Muriel and Shielas killer. Can you explain please. 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SOUTH Wales Police's Specialist Crime Review Unit has been investigating the murder of 12 year-old Muriel Drinkwater whose body was found in Penllergaer Woods, Swansea in 1946. Neil Milkins. I appealed that decision and was then informed that as the information I requested was kept in paper format in various locations in South Wales then it would be too costly and time-consuming to check out so the request was denied. Video, 00:00:42Dog found alive after 23 days under rubble, Watch Kate beat William in spin class endurance race. 2023 The True Crime Files. The police have a Y-STR profile from Muriels coat. GRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS. Former Detective Inspector Paul Bethell, who was in charge of South Wales Police's cold case team, explained in the documentary: "We know Muriel used to catch the school bus from the school to the gateway off the main road which led to the forestry, and then she would walk about a mile through the forestry, along the lane to the farmhouse.". Hi. Perhaps one day then there'll still be justice for Muriel Drinkwater - even if it might have to stretch beyond the grave. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Required fields are marked *. Vote. Muriel Drinkwater lived on a farm known at Tyle-Du at Penllergaer and attended Penllergaer Grammar School. If information comes in from the public or other forces we act on it. She was was found murdered in 1980 in a field in Dixon, CA. true crime. 4th daughter born to Lilian and Charles Herbert Irvine in Liverpool. sample from Harold Jones daughter. 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Hi Sherlock. Brutally beaten, raped and shot twice, the discovery of Swansea schoolgirl Muriel Drinkwater 's body in 1946 horrified an entire community. He stated he had long been suspected by some locals of being the murderer and was happy to clear his name. Learn more about managing a memorial . However in 1965 he was registered as Harry Stevens in Putney AND at the same time he rented a property in Aldensley Road Hammersmith and was also registered but using the name Harry Jones. "Each case is reviewed periodically. This was no spur of the moment event. Muriel Joan Drinkwater was the youngest of four daughters born to John Percival and Margaret ( ne Morgans) Drinkwater. Ms Darby says: "He denied killing his relatives at all. The 12-year-old attended Gowerton County Yet, despite their exhaustive enquiries - not to mention the discovery of the gun used in Muriel's shooting - the culprit managed to evade justice. Also that they likely watched Muriel and knew her route. She was last seen at 2:30 p.m., singing as she headed for the one-mile walk to her family's home, Tyle-Du Farm. I can be contacted at [emailprotected] or via Facebook messenger. Well here is the TRUTH. I contacted Detective Superintendent Martyn Lloyd-Evans (now retired) of South Wales Police by phone and had a friendly conversation with him about Victor Penalunas suspicions. It became known as the Little Red Riding Hood murder - but who killed Muriel Drinkwater? Was a local stalking Muriel? Only by comparing D.N.A. Both girls were murdered in woods within a half mile of their homes. Enter your email address to receive our monthly newsletter and to be notified about new posts. Their bodies were found buried in a Carmarthenshire kale field in 1953 you can read the full story here. Her mother seen her approaching 400 yards away, so perhaps she was a selected victim. Bethell was thrilled to discover that on the back of the coat, a no-longer visible dried semen stain was circled with yellow crayon. Bethell sent the coat toDr. Colin Dark, and over the course of three years (MUCH longer than depicted on television and in the movies) Bethell analyzed the material and was able to extract enough fragments of DNA tosuccessfully create a Y-STR profile from the semen stain. The police found the murder weapon in the undergrowth near where Muriels body had been discovered. Her mother later went to the village to look for her when she did not return home; more than a dozen men from the area began a search. - Listen to The Unsolved Murder of Muriel Drinkwater by The True Crime Files instantly on your tablet, phone or browser - no downloads needed. There are far too many retired people out there who want to write books about unsolved murders, trawling through these records and coming up with half-baked theories.. I personally think it was someone still in the area from the Second World war. Police and soldiers search the area for clues of Muriel's murder, A picture of Muriel's schoolmates with flowers for her grave, Freda Burnell (left) and Florence Little (right) - Jones' first victims, At 35-years-old Jones is released from prison, only to vanish. Hoyles lamented, For years, Ive lived with the knowledge that some people in the community suspected me. Lets deduce, her killer was obviously male, or were they, unless they had extracted the sperm from another person it is definite that they are a male, so we have a male, s/ that narrows it down. "This was a terrible, terrible crime that someone has got away with for too long. Todays' video is about the true crime story of the unsolved murder of 12 year old Muriel Drinkwater in 1946. "Looking through the paper work, we could see the materials had left the crime scene, where it had gone, where it had been examined. However, a lack of hard evidence would later see him freed. "We realise whoever did this might be dead, but if he is alive and in his 80s or even 90s we would like to see him behind bars," said Muriel's great-niece Claire Phillips, speaking about developments last October. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. There must be other victims of this person as I cant see him stopping. [6] On 27 June 1946, Muriel took the school bus home from Gowerton Grammar School. This murder shook the village and all the boys came under suspicion. In the programme, former Dyfed Powys chief constable Jackie Roberts travelled to met him and he told her how his grandparents (Muriel's parents) had changed after the murder. On this podcast episode, we cover the unsolved cold case of Muriel Drinkwater. Murder of 12-year-old Muriel Drinkwater in 1946 is being probed 73 years later Police thought a stain on Muriel's coat would link death to Harold Jones But they have now confirmed a test. As you know it is not possible to prove whether Harold Jones was Muriels killer by D.N.A testing Jones daughter. Muriel Drinkwater was born on January 12, 1906 in New York . Thanks again ~ Christine, Your email address will not be published. Taking into consideration all of the above information and the decades that have passed since Muriel was killed, I think that the only way this case will be closed is through a familial DNA match. Hi Neil. She may or may NOT have been Jones biological daughter. In the days and weeks that followed Muriel's murder, police officers visited every farmhouse and cottage within 150 square miles, along with interviewing 20,000 men in Swansea, Aberdare and Carmarthenshire. 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