Case Study- The Double Child Murders

The Double Child Murders

Context

The murders of two 15-year-old girls, Dawn Ashworth on 31^st July, 1986 and Lynda Mann on 21^st November 1983, were reported to have the same pattern of murder. It was through the forensic investigation, found out, that they both were raped and killed. Also on those days, there was no potential method which was fully developed to examine the biological evidences. The scientists relied on techniques like blood grouping and fingerprints for solving any kind of suspicious cases.

Incident

Dawn Ashworth was last seen at around 4:30 pm on 31^st July 1986 when she was returning home from her friend’s house in a nearby village of Enderby Leicester. After two days, her body was found in the corner of a field. The body was covered in twigs, torn up nettles and branches. The police had very little clues but they traced back similarities in Dawn’s Murder and Lynda Mann’s Murder which happened a few years prior to this case. Lynda Mann was also a local girl who was murdered on 21^st November 1983, in similar fashion as Dawn when she was walking back home after babysitting for a friend. Her body was found strangled by her own scarf the next day.

Observation & Analysis

1. The recovered biological evidences where analyzed by the then techniques, Blood grouping and fingerprinting. It revealed only the blood group of the killer to be “A” and that the fingerprints were not to be found anywhere from the crime scene.

2. During the investigation in Lynda’s murder case, a local person suggested the police that there was another local person named Colin Pitchfork who might be responsible for Lynda’s death. Colin was questioned but he claimed to be babysitting his young son with his wife at his home. This case eventually went cold as her wife confirmed his alibi.

3. The DNA was discovered in the early 1950s and however at the time of these murders, the DNA profiling was only used for paternity reasons and for testing other individuals. The DNA analysis was never really considered for solving any criminal case.

4. Regarding the death of Dawn, the police received a number of calls claiming that a young man has been sighted on a motorbike who was roaming around the area of crime. The young man, Richard Buckland, a 17-year-old, had learning difficulties and that he seemed to know a lot about Dawn’s murder. After questioning Richard confessed for Dawn’s murder but was clueless for Lynda’s. The police believed that both the murders were committed by the same person but needed proof that Richard committed Lynda’s murder too.

5. David Baker, Detective Chief Superintendent of that time, took over his command in this case. He was aware of the recent studies and new sciences of DNA profiling which might possibly help in solving these murders. David approached Alec Jeffreys, a genetic researcher, University of Leicester and his two colleagues Peter Gill and Dave Werrett to assist him in the case.

6. Alec Jeffreys, Peter Gill and Dave Werrett were developing a technique called DNA Preferential Extraction Method which could separate the DNA from the fluids recovered from the victim. The police was convinced that with this method Richard could be proven for committing both murders. Richard’s blood samples were collected and blood samples from both murder cases were submitted for DNA profiling along with Richard’s blood samples. The results were a shock. The samples from the murder cases matched but did not match with that of Richard. It was never revealed why Richard confessed for Dawn’s murder. The police conceded that he was innocent and they released Richard.

7. David then decided to perform the tests upon 5500 local men between the ages of 18 to 35 who lived in the areas where the murders happened. The funding was provided to Alec’s team and the testing continued for 6 months without any positive results.

8. Randomly, one day police received a phone call from a woman who stated “I don’t want to bother you, as this may be nothing, but I was in a pub in Leicester with some friends when one guy called Ian Kelly admitted he’d taken the blood test pretending to be someone else.”

9. Ian Kelly was taken into custody and was questioned for taking the test on someone’s behalf. He confessed that his supervisor paid him 200 quid for the same reason. The supervisor was the same local person who was suspected for Lynda’s murder, Colin Pitchfork.

Confession

Colin Pitchfork later, during the interrogation, revealed that he killed both the girls. He transpired that he went out with his young son on the back seat of the car and raped and murdered Lynda and returned home soon after. Even his wife did not suspect anything. The DNA from the two murders matched with that of Colin.

Colin Pitchfork was pleaded guilty and was sentenced with two life sentences not extending a term of 30 years which was later reduced to 28 years. He was not considered for Parole and also that Lord Chief Justice of England recommended that Colin should never be released.