Only the exhumation of Jones body or D.N.A. This murder shook the village and all the boys came under suspicion. A US Army Colt .45 service revolver was used to shoot Muriel Drinkwater, 12, in the chest, after her killer had beaten and raped her. [citation needed], In 2009, Welsh police began reinvestigating any link with the murder of 11-year-old Sheila Martin, who was raped and strangled 250 miles away in Sun Hill Wood, Fawkham Green, Kent, on 7 July 1946, ten days after Drinkwater's murder. [11] Hoyles, who saw Drinkwater after buying eggs at her parents' farm, was cleared by the DNA evidence. Welsh author Neil Milkinsargues that Harold Jones,a convicted murderer who killed two girls in Abertillery in 1921 when he was just 15 years old, was Muriels killer. I guess a DNA test of Sheila Martin must have been taken to see if it was the same person. I have spoken to former D.C.I Paul Bethel and given him this information. 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. What a big moment in this case! [8][4] Policemen from Glamorgan, assisted by the 169th Bomb Disposal Unit, used a metal detector to search for a second weapon suspected to have been used, but never located it. You can Google ones in your area or check out Twitter (but I recommend checking their credentials). Her killer has never been caught and it remains among the most notorious unsolved murders in Welsh history you can read more of them here. Martyn Lloyd-Evans again regarding the letter from D.C.Paul Rogers. Twelve-year-old Muriel Drinkwater was a choirgirl who dreamed of being a schoolteacher. Accountant Graham Wildin built an incredible 10,000sq/ft leisure complex - which has a bowling alley, casino, a cinema and more - at the back of his home. I personally think it was someone still in the area from the Second World war. It is currently one of the oldest active cold cases in the UK. It was believed a similar weapon had been used in the murder of a cinema manager in Bristol. request regarding the unsolved murder of 12 year-old Muriel Drinkwater near Swansea in June 1946. The Little Red Riding Hood murder of Muriel Drinkwater. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. [6] On 27 June 1946, Muriel took the school bus home from Gowerton Grammar School. The reason given for sealing the files was that it could help the police catch the perpetrator. More here: https://bit.ly/WoodlawnJaneDoe. If you have any information about Muriels murder, please contact the South Wales Policevia email at[emailprotected], Mystery of 1946 murder in woods BBC News article, The real waking the dead: This schoolgirls savage murder has mystified police for 62 years. Muriel was seen at 2:30PM, singing as she exited the school bus. Thank you for sharing this detailed update on Muriels case with the community. Over 20,000 men were interviewed about the crime . ~ Christine. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. It was the first time he had spoken publicly about the tragedy that haunts his family to this day. But Muriel, who was known locally as 'The Little Nightingale' because of her beautiful singing voice, never made it home. Its her birthday tomorrow, and still no closer to finding her killer. On this podcast episode, we cover the unsolved cold case of Muriel Drinkwater. Her route to her family's home Tyle-Du Farm entailed a mile-long journey that wove in and out of the woods. The killer was dubbed Jack The Stripper because of the way he left his victims. 74 years ago, Muriel Drinkwater was murdered. There was another murder in 1943. Paul.. I wonder if there was a sketch done when Hoyles confronted a man weeks earlier. She was still wearing her school uniform. Video, 00:01:18, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story, WATCH: Key moments from PM's NI Brexit deal speech. [13] However, in 2019, South Wales Police stated that forensic tests on the DNA "categorically confirm that Jones was not responsible for the murder of Muriel Drinkwater. Find records of Muriel Drinkwater . profiling. As you know it is not possible to prove whether Harold Jones was Muriels killer by D.N.A testing Jones daughter. "[4] Police also circulated photos of the United States Army-issued gun; notably, perspex had been used to modernise the original wooden stocks next to the grip. Video, 00:00:41, Watch Kate beat William in spin class endurance race, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. "My grandparents changed completely. Although he was first registered at Widdows Fulham address at Hestercombe Avenue in 1947 as Harold Jones, the following years and up until 1962 he was registered as Harry Stevens. But he was later released and served in World War II before his military career ended in 1946. I have requested information regarding the cost of the re-investigation of Muriels murder since 2008. Victor told me that he had seen a T.V. She was buried at St David's Church in Penllergaer. Wales documentary screened at 10.30pm on Sunday 8 November 2020 spent a full 5 minutes suggesting that 2 books found in a Carmarthen bookshop recently had been taken from Muriels schoolbag in 1946 as trophies by the killer. Her mother seen her approaching 400 yards away, so perhaps she was a selected victim. He said, ``She was regularly seen walking, skipping and singing in the woods as she made her way each day from her home to the . Evernote. I then appealed that decision and was shocked to be told that the information I requested had been eaten by vermin or had been damaged owing to a leaking roof. 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. In fact, it was recently used to identifyJoseph James DeAngelo, the suspected Golden State Killer who is thought to be responsible for at least a dozen murders and 50 rapes in the 1970s and 1980s in the United States. However, in 2008, a team of retired detectives investigating cold cases found Drinkwater's clothes in storage. Paul says: "Muriel had almost made it to the home. On 29 August 2021, I sent the following email to Freedom Of Information at South Wales Police. "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. 4th daughter born to Lilian and Charles Herbert Irvine in Liverpool. Drinkwater, a 12-year-old schoolgirl, was raped and shot in the woods in Penllergaer, Swansea. The case became known as the Little Red Riding Hood murder. They have a suspect in the murder case and a cousin of the suspect has given D.N.A to prove whether or not the cousin Ron Harries was the killer. Was a local stalking Muriel? The Photo Request has been fulfilled. 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. Regards. He clearly wasn't very bright, and there's evidence that you see of overkill with Muriel Drinkwater's case as well.". Thank you for listening to this episode of The True Crime Files. Hi Neil. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Jones was only 15 when he killed eight-year-old Freda Burnell, who'd been sent by her father to buy bird seed from the store where Jones was working. But in 2003, when the case was reopened for review, forensics experts found a semen stain found on Muriel's coat. Colin Dark suggested the possibillity of using D.N.A to identify who took the books into the shop with the hope of identifying the killer. 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. This will conclude a 10 year wait to see if Jones was indeed Muriels killer. 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On the afternoon of Muriels murder, thirteen-year-old Hoyles purchased eggs from Muriels mother at their family farm. 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. This was a big news story at the time. Mudgee General Cemetery. There is no doubt about that.". Drinkwater, a 12-year-old schoolgirl, was raped and shot in the woods in Penllergaer, Swansea. It is now more than 70 years since the 12-year-old schoolgirl was brutally raped, battered around the head . taken from Jones one and only child, a daughter. 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. Dubbed the 'Little Red Riding Hood murder', the. "I have spoken to Muriel's family and bring them up to date with the latest details of this investigation. Thomas was born on July 22 1880, in South Thomaston Knox Maine. The police statement that Jones was ruled out is a misleading statement. 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. Do not sell or share my personal information. [8] Scientists successfully retrieved a DNA profile from this stain. All the best with pursuing answers in this case, and please keep us updated. This true crime happened in Penllegaer Woods on the outskirts of Swansea in 1946. In 2007 whilst researching for my 2008 True Crime book Every Mothers Nightmare Abertillery in Mourning, which dealt with the murders of two Abertillery school-girls in 1921, I received a surprise visit from Victor Penaluna, a cousin of the second Abertillery victim Florence Little aged 11. "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. "Due to advances in forensic technology we have been able to look again at evidence from the murder in 1946 and I am now able to rule him out completely as a suspect in this case. Muriels nieces family took the books to the bookshop after Muriels brother-in-law died last year. Video, 00:01:20WATCH: Key moments from PM's NI Brexit deal speech, EU Chief on NI deal: 'We were honest with each other' Video, 00:00:36EU Chief on NI deal: 'We were honest with each other', The 'smart suit' that is changing children's lives. Forensic scientist Dr Colin Dark said that the stain had been found on the lower flap of Muriel's coat. Will do Christine. However, if it wasnt for Victor Penaluna and D.C. Paul Rogers of the London Metropolitan Police I would have been none the wiser about the Muriel Drinkwater murder. Also, as I understand matters, members of Muriels family have given DNA samples to ascertain whether Muriels father may have killed her. 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. 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. The D.N.A. ', Glamorgan Police and men of the 169th Bomb Disposal Unit make a break for a meal during their search for evidence after her murder on June 27, 1946, Jones, originally of Abertillery, South Wales, is a suspect in the killings of six women in London in the 1960s. Play it now! [12][13], For more than a decade, Welsh true crime author Neil Milkins theorised that notorious child murderer Harold Jones (19061971) was responsible for the murders of both Martin and Drinkwater. That DNA was initially used to rule from suspicion someone who had been spotted close to the woods on the afternoon Muriel was attacked. Trump rages at Mark Zuckerberg amid claims group linked to Facebook boss gave $2 million to Georgia elections board - and says Dems are 'trying to steal a SECOND election'. However, a lack of hard evidence would later see him freed. "She lost sight of her for a few moments. Norah Irene Bartlett. Well here is the TRUTH. Advertisement. (My belief now is that the suspect he referred to was Hubert Hoyles who as a 13 year-old boy had come into contact with Muriels family shortly before her murder. 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. Video, 00:01:28, The 'smart suit' that is changing children's lives, View from the cockpit of a Ukraine combat helicopter. Hi Neil. 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