A 92-year-old man, Ryland Headley, has been convicted of murdering a 75-year-old woman in southwestern England, bringing to an end the UK’s longest-running cold case. Headley was found guilty of attacking Louisa Dunne in June 1967 and was initially charged with rape and murder in the late 1970s.
New forensic evidence linked Headley to the crime scene through DNA analysis, which matched his DNA profile from a national database. The breakthrough came after investigators re-examined the case in 2023 and sent Dunne’s clothing for further testing.
Headley had previously been convicted of raping two women, aged 79 and 84, in Ipswich in the late 1970s. He was sentenced to seven years in prison. Testimonies from these victims were read during Headley’s trial, providing insight into his modus operandi.
The case has sent shockwaves through Dunne’s family, who had long given up hope of ever seeing justice served. “Hearing the voices of the victims is just incredibly powerful and harrowing,” said Detective Inspector Dave Marchant.
Headley will face sentencing on Tuesday, as investigators continue to work with the National Crime Agency to determine whether he may be responsible for other unsolved murders in the area.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/ryland-headley-bristol-murder-britain-cold-case-7561c00c463de438d511128e5404d80c