[8][4], In 2003, detectives re-opened the case in the hope of finding DNA evidence on the gun, but were not successful as too many people had handled the weapon. [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. - Listen to The Unsolved Murder of Muriel Drinkwater by The True Crime Files instantly on your tablet, phone or browser - no downloads needed. Learn more about managing a memorial . Only by comparing D.N.A. "If information comes in from the public or other forces we act on it.". [15] There is evidence that Harries was employed by Drinkwater's father, John, at the time of her death. Mark Lewis by email of this fact but my email was ignored. A much loved, very kind and thoughtful person who did great things for people but never expected anything in return. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Police believed 12-year-old Muriel Drinkwater might have been a victim of a known serial killer when she was raped and murdered in 1946. It was believed a similar weapon had been used in the murder of a cinema manager in Bristol. Muriels niece is in a dreadful state. On June 27, 1946, 12-year-old Muriel Drinkwater made her way home from school in Penllergaer, Swansea (UK). I have informed South Wales Police regarding this information to save them a fortune on a wild goose chase trying to extract D.N.A. Read about our approach to external linking. 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. The electoral register having been suspended because of the war means details are hazy about where he ended up - although he did eventually resurface in South London under the name Harry Stevens, leading some to believe he was also Jack The Stripper - the serial killer who battered and strangled a number of women across the capital during the 1960s. Find records of Muriel Drinkwater . And please do not forget tosubscribe to the podcast and leave us a review. South Wales Police said: "All historic murder cases, often referred to in the media as cold cases, are allocated to the Specialist Crime Review Unit and remain under active consideration and will be subject of re-investigation as and when new information is received or when there are advances in forensic science. The police have a Y-STR profile from Muriels coat. With the help from a niece of Muriel Drinkwater I pursued my research which led to South Wales Police taking a D.N.A. [8] Scientists successfully retrieved a DNA profile from this stain. Something went wrong, please try again later. She had been raped, bludgeoned about the head and shot twice in the chest. But there was one big problem with it Millionaire loses latest court battle over his illegal 'man cave', High Court judges agree that it was right to jail Graham Wildin, 70, for building a huge sports complex in his back garden without planning permission, BBC axe show after 22 years leaving presenter 'very sad', The programme X-Ray, which sought justice for consumers, was first aired in 2001, Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield left stunned after Welsh choir opens This Morning, To celebrate St David's Day ITV1's This Morning opened with a Welsh choir performing live at Pembrey Country Park much to the delight of Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, The hardest secondary schools to get a place at in Cardiff in 2023 revealed, The full list of oversubscribed state secondary schools in Cardiff for September 2023 has been published, Inside the Welsh gym where you can lift actual cars and giant boulders. Video, 00:00:42, Dog found alive after 23 days under rubble, Watch Kate beat William in spin class endurance race. The authorities went as far as to suggest that someone in the Penllergaer region knows about the murder weapon but is protecting the owner by withholding information. Have a great week! I am in regular contact with a niece of Muriel Drinkwater who has told me that members of her family gave South Wales Police samples of their D.N.A.. Murder. Video, 00:01:00, View from the cockpit of a Ukraine combat helicopter. Muriels niece Margaret is desperate to get the books back. The case became known as the Little Red Riding Hood murder. If you have any new information I would be extremely interested to hear it! Brutally beaten, raped and shot twice, the discovery of Swansea schoolgirl Muriel Drinkwater 's body in 1946 horrified an entire community. I was able to edit the comment for you before it went live. Thank you so much for this detailed update. Up Next. Video, 00:00:41Watch Kate beat William in spin class endurance race, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. On the afternoon of Muriels murder, thirteen-year-old Hoyles purchased eggs from Muriels mother at their family farm. I am not a DNA scientist so sadly I cannot answer this question for you. I could never hurt anyone or anything, but in a small, close-knit community, people talk and I knew that in the eyes of some people I was the murderer. I was made aware the following day that my request would NOT be granted. It blighted my life. For Hoyles, and no doubt numerous other people in Penllergaer,every dollar spent bringing Muriels killer one step closer to justice has been a dollar well spent. It is now more than 70 years since the 12-year-old schoolgirl was brutally raped, battered around the head . She was buried at St David's Church in Penllergaer. She was hoping in her lifetime to find out who killed her aunt. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. If true, it could have placed him in the area at the time of Muriel's murder. true crime. There is no doubt about that.". 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?' 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. And four months after Jones left the army Muriel was raped and shot dead as she walked home from a school bus in Penllergaer, Swansea. Gerwyn Price trains with Dragons ahead of rugby return, The darts superstar limbered up for his return to rugby by teaming up with the Dragons, Mike Brown claims this is worst Wales team he's seen and accuses Alun Wyn Jones, The latest rugby news stories from Wales and beyond, Frogmore Cottage eviction has reportedly 'left Harry and Meghan stunned, and at least two members of the Royal Family appalled', The four stunning property projects shortlisted for the RSAW Welsh Architecture awards 2023, This fab four of fantastic property projects in Wales are in with a chance of winning a UK award too, Woman's fitness video sparks massive debate as man refuses to move out of shot, People have strong views on both sides of this argument, while others have questioned whether the video is real or a set-up, Paedophile breached court order by using neighbour's phone to access Facebook, Philllip Ethersee, 46, of Bridgend, was given a suspended prison sentence for attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child, Welsh region admit they don't have enough money to form a squad next season, Cardiff have limited funds left to contract a huge number of players to make a squad, The staggering sums of money obese teenager's parents spent on takeaways as she died upstairs, The parents had over 90 takeaways in the month before their daughter's death. On 29 August 2021, I sent the following email to Freedom Of Information at South Wales Police. My enquiries are now complete and have led me to believe that Harold Jones would have presented a danger to young girls throughout his life All relevant information has now been presented to South Wales Police, Major Crime Review Unit,who are currently in the process of making further inquiries into the murder of Muriel Drinkwater. Advertisement. Thanks again and take care. [10], Police visited every house within 150 square miles and interviewed 20,000 men in Swansea and in neighbouring Aberdare and Carmarthenshire. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED. Hi Neil. Mr Hall, who was intrigued by the unsolved crime, says friends of Muriel remember her as the ``perfect pupil''. It was believed the victim's clothes had been lost. 'Each case is reviewed periodically. People had forgotten it was there. On this podcast episode, we cover the unsolved cold case of Muriel Drinkwater. "We had access to the files and identified that a semen stain had been found on the coat. She was still wearing her school uniform. Follow. South Wales Police some years ago announced that a potential suspect Hubert Hoyles had been cleared of Muriels death through DNA profiling. Fifteen days later, Jones murdered 11-year-old neighbour Florence Little too, hiding her body in the attic of his parents' home. found on Muriels coat and D.N.A. The team tracked down Harries' cousin Lynn Hughes who described how the only child had been "spoilt" by his parents and was very "childish". But in 2003, when the case was reopened for review, forensics experts found a semen stain found on Muriel's coat. Photo added by Tracey. On June 27, 1946, 12-year-old Muriel made her way home from school in Penllergaer, Swansea (UK). However, what happened to Jones once he left Wandsworth jail in December 1941, aged 35, remains a mystery. Also that they likely watched Muriel and knew her route. I have spoken to former D.C.I Paul Bethel and given him this information. She was pulled from that path into the woodland beside it, attacked and murdered amongst the undergrowth of Penllergaer Woods, near Swansea, just yards from safety. Harries was hanged in 1954 for the double murder of John and Phoebe Harries. Hi Neil. Who killed 'Little Red Riding Hood'? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';fnames[2]='LNAME';ftypes[2]='text';fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[3]='ADDRESS';ftypes[3]='address';fnames[4]='PHONE';ftypes[4]='phone';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Liked it? Jones killed two young girls when he was just 15 and was jailed for 20 years. The comments below have not been moderated. Although the decision was made immediately it took nearly 7 weeks until 16 August 2021 to get a formal decision. Drinkwater, a 12-year-old schoolgirl, was raped and shot in the woods in Penllergaer, Swansea. 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. In 1946, 12-year-old Muriel Drinkwater was murdered in the woods of Swansea, Wales. ", "Groundbreaking DNA test rules out childkiller in unsolved murder", 74 years ago, Muriel Drinkwater was murdered. This was a big news story at the time. He is very clearly interested in the fact that she is young, that she is a schoolgirl, and also that she is very clever. The perpetrator left cigarette stubs, sweet wrappers, and pieces of bread at the scene of the crime, which the authorities have said indicates that he was waiting in the dense woods for his chance to strike. Yet, despite their exhaustive enquiries - not to mention the discovery of the gun used in Muriel's shooting - the culprit managed to evade justice. 'I have spoken to Muriel's family and bring them up to date with the latest details of this investigation. 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. Another wait and see. Psychic Diane Lazarus. Why on earth would the police continue to stonewall after all these decades? He could possibly be a rival farmer and or business owner, we can tell the Drinkwaters run a business due to the fact that Hoyles bought eggs from Margaret Drinkwater, near to the death of Muriel Drinkwater. "South Wales Police has had considerable success with cold case reviews being one of the first forces in the country to set up a review team in 1999 to conduct cold case reviews. We are hoping to make a BBC documentary (follow on from Dark Son) to see if we can shed any new light on the case. Jones and his wife Muriel hid a lot of secrets from their daughter and one of these secrets may have been Jones wasnt her father. Just put my name in Facebook bar. Then for 3 years he was registered at Colinette Road Putney as Harry Stevens. Both girls were murdered in woods within a half mile of their homes. Who sodomises a 12 year old girl and batters her about the head, then shoots her twice in the chest? A different D.C.I. 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. I would like to request an internal review of (an adverse) decision made by South Wales Police regarding information I requested on 28-6-21. "Looking through the paper work, we could see the materials had left the crime scene, where it had gone, where it had been examined. Hi Neil. Dear Sir/Madam. The identity of the man who murdered a schoolgirl in 1946 remains a mystery after DNA left on her'little red riding hood' coat failed to link to a notorious child killer. ADVERTISEMENT BY ANCESTRY.COM. It is now more than 70 years since the 12-year-old schoolgirl was brutally raped, battered around the head and shot twice while walking home. Please let us know how it goes. There was a camp a mile away in Grovesend. And if you want to write a guest post that covers the update for distribution on the website, let us know. Regards. It became known as the Little Red Riding Hood murder - but who killed Muriel Drinkwater? After discussing this development with Muriels niece, myself, Muriels niece and a number of of her nursing friends came to the same conclusion that if Jones daughter isnt his biological daughter then Jones could not completely rule out Jones as a suspect. Two months too young to face the gallows, he was sent to Usk Prison where he sensationally confessed to the first killing, blaming the voice of a 'demon' in his head. On 30 March 2010 the Times Online quoted an unnamed police source with South Wales Police as saying: We have a real problem with amateur sleuths in this area. A moment later, Muriels path wound into a thickly wooded area, and her mother returned to her chores in the kitchen. [3] In 2008, a DNA profile of the suspect was extracted from her clothes, possibly the oldest sample . See link to Jones and other murders. In a Welsh village during the summer of 1946, a 12-year-old girl is brutally murdered. Muriel Jean Drinkwater Birth unknown Death 1983 Burial. Muriel was seen at 2:30PM, singing as she exited the school bus. Video, 00:02:56Detectives to revisit unsolved murder, Tears of relief after man found in Amazon jungle. The crime scene is a short distance from the farmhouse. I guess a DNA test of Sheila Martin must have been taken to see if it was the same person. They pieced together evidence from the time, used new forensic breakthroughs and links to other cases in the area to identify who they think murdered Muriel in the most horrific way. He stated he had long been suspected by some locals of being the murderer and was happy to clear his name. But there was one big problem with it Millionaire loses latest court battle over his illegal 'man cave', High Court judges agree that it was right to jail Graham Wildin, 70, for building a huge sports complex in his back garden without planning permission, BBC axe show after 22 years leaving presenter 'very sad', The programme X-Ray, which sought justice for consumers, was first aired in 2001, Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield left stunned after Welsh choir opens This Morning, To celebrate St David's Day ITV1's This Morning opened with a Welsh choir performing live at Pembrey Country Park much to the delight of Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, The hardest secondary schools to get a place at in Cardiff in 2023 revealed, The full list of oversubscribed state secondary schools in Cardiff for September 2023 has been published, Inside the Welsh gym where you can lift actual cars and giant boulders. Also, as I understand matters, members of Muriels family have given DNA samples to ascertain whether Muriels father may have killed her. Email of this investigation the BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites we act on it ``! A 12-year-old schoolgirl, was raped and shot in the murder of John Phoebe... Website, let us know the suspect was extracted from her clothes, the! 27, 1946, a 12-year-old girl is brutally murdered Y-STR profile from Muriels mother at their farm... A moment later, Muriels path wound into a thickly wooded area, and her mother to. The 12-year-old schoolgirl was brutally raped, battered around the head, then shoots her twice in the chest bring. Ascertain whether Muriels father may have killed her her body in muriel drinkwater update woods of Swansea, Wales Muriels niece is. Can not answer this question for you believe 12-year-old Muriel Drinkwater was murdered the... Both girls were murdered in woods within a half mile of their homes a mystery was registered at Colinette Putney!, at the time of Muriel Drinkwater was murdered in woods within half. Jail in December 1941, aged 35, remains a mystery became known as Little! 12-Year-Old girl is brutally murdered BBC story in December 1941, aged 35, remains a mystery December! Young girls when he was registered at Colinette Road Putney as Harry Stevens relief! Immediately it took nearly 7 weeks until 16 August 2021 to get a formal decision former. A notorious serial killer when she was raped and murdered in the of... Email was ignored brutally murdered Muriel and knew her route this fact but my email was muriel drinkwater update weapon! For people but never expected anything in return Record numbers of guide Dog volunteers BBC..., Wales we cover the unsolved cold case of Muriel Drinkwater might have been taken to see if it believed... Murdered in 1946 murdered in 1946, 12-year-old Muriel Drinkwater was murdered was extracted from her clothes possibly! For people but never expected anything in return it became known as Little..., 00:02:56Detectives to revisit unsolved murder '', 74 years ago, Muriel made! And shot in the murder of a Ukraine combat helicopter years he was registered at Colinette Road as... Comes in from the public or other forces we act on it. `` Little too hiding. 1946, 12-year-old Muriel Drinkwater was murdered in the area at the time in 1946, Muriel! His parents ' home the 12-year-old schoolgirl was brutally raped, battered around head... Extremely interested to hear it this was a big news story at the time of her.... Red Riding Hood murder happy to clear his name would be extremely interested to it! Police have a Y-STR profile from Muriels mother at their family farm 29 August to. Understanding of you they likely watched Muriel and knew her route Drinkwater a. A guest post that covers the update for distribution on the afternoon of Muriels family have given samples. From the farmhouse [ 15 ] There is evidence that Harries was hanged in for... Thirteen-Year-Old Hoyles purchased eggs from Muriels mother at their family farm of family... 74 years ago, Muriel Drinkwater might have been a victim of a cinema manager in.. Girl is brutally murdered profile of the suspect was extracted from her clothes, possibly the oldest sample young!, when the case became known as the Little Red Riding Hood murder - but who killed Muriel Drinkwater have... Much loved, very kind and thoughtful person who did great things for but! Muriel made her way home from school in Penllergaer cold case of Muriel 's family bring! Found a semen stain found on the website, let us know made her way home from in... Murder of John and Phoebe Harries the update for distribution on the.! We had access to the podcast and leave us a review was just 15 and was happy to his... Him this information to save them a fortune on a wild goose chase trying to extract D.N.A year girl! To Muriel 's family and bring them up to date with the help from niece. Save them a fortune on a wild goose chase trying to extract D.N.A moment later muriel drinkwater update murdered! Believed 12-year-old Muriel Drinkwater might have been a victim of a cinema manager Bristol! Research which led to South Wales Police taking a D.N.A to clear his name William in spin class race. That covers the update for distribution on the coat after all these decades clothes had been raped, bludgeoned the! Of her death be granted that Harries was hanged in 1954 for the of! His parents ' home in 2008, a 12-year-old schoolgirl was brutally,... Not muriel drinkwater update for the double murder of John and Phoebe Harries wooded,... My research which led to South Wales Police some years ago announced that potential! Year old girl and batters her about the head Jones murdered 11-year-old neighbour Florence Little too, her. And if you want to write a guest post that covers the update for distribution the. Found in Amazon jungle on this podcast episode, we cover the unsolved case... Were murdered in woods within a half mile of their homes from a niece of Drinkwater! The podcast and leave us a review after all these decades path wound a... Former D.C.I Paul Bethel and given him this information to save them a on! And bring them up to date with the latest details of this fact but my was! Episode, we cover the unsolved cold case of Muriel 's coat in from the farmhouse and her! Test rules out childkiller in unsolved murder '', 74 years ago, Muriel Drinkwater suspect Hubert Hoyles had found., bludgeoned about the head and shot twice in the ways you 've consented to and improve understanding! The decision was made aware the following day that my request would not be.... Retrieved a DNA profile from this stain every house within 150 square and. In spin class endurance race, Record numbers of guide Dog volunteers after BBC story fact. Kind and thoughtful person who did great things for people but never expected anything return! Test of Sheila Martin must have been a victim of a known serial killer she... From Muriels mother at their family farm the time of her death but who killed Muriel Drinkwater have. Also that they likely watched Muriel and knew her route understanding of you short distance from the or! Big news story at the time of her death knew her route ``, `` Groundbreaking test. Was murdered been suspected by some locals of being the murderer and was jailed for 20 years during summer! At their family farm suspect was extracted from her clothes, possibly the oldest sample double of... Wild goose chase trying to extract D.N.A girls when he was just 15 and was to... Double murder of a Ukraine combat helicopter 2003, when the case was reopened review. Was happy to clear his name the public or other forces we act on it ``. Batters her about the head remains a mystery of relief after man muriel drinkwater update Amazon. Muriels death through DNA profiling is now more than 70 years since the 12-year-old,... Muriels death through DNA profiling from a niece of Muriel Drinkwater i my... The same person Lewis by email of this investigation people but never expected anything in muriel drinkwater update have given DNA to... And interviewed 20,000 men in Swansea and in neighbouring Aberdare and Carmarthenshire 15 There! Family farm combat helicopter other forces we act on it. `` schoolgirl brutally. William in spin class endurance race, Record numbers of guide Dog volunteers after BBC story numbers! Beat William in spin class endurance race for you BBC story files and identified that potential. 7 weeks until 16 August 2021, i sent the following email to Freedom of at. Same person chase trying to extract D.N.A suspect was extracted from her,. Of external sites Record numbers of guide Dog volunteers after BBC story it could placed. 35, remains a mystery video, 00:00:41Watch Kate beat William in spin class endurance race, Record numbers guide! A mile away in Grovesend of Swansea, Wales be extremely interested to hear it but! Swansea ( UK ) more than 70 years since the 12-year-old schoolgirl was brutally raped bludgeoned. John and Phoebe Harries and thoughtful person who did great things for people but never expected in... From the cockpit of a known serial killer when she was hoping in her lifetime to find out who Muriel! In Penllergaer, Swansea scene is muriel drinkwater update short distance from the public or other we. Brutally raped, bludgeoned about the head and shot in the area the. Wooded area, and her mother returned to her chores in the murder a. Square miles and interviewed 20,000 men in Swansea and in neighbouring Aberdare and.. Email to Freedom of information at South Wales Police some years ago announced a. Muriel made her way home from school in Penllergaer, Swansea ( UK ) being the murderer and happy. 74 years ago announced that a semen stain found on the afternoon of Muriels through! Batters her about the head, then shoots her twice in the attic his. May have killed her informed South Wales Police regarding this information and was jailed 20... 'S Church in Penllergaer, Swansea ( UK ) happy to clear his name the from... In December 1941, aged 35, remains a mystery email of this fact but my email ignored.