A 92-year-old pensioner has been arrested on suspicion of homicide and rape for the killing of Louisa Dunne in 1967.
The person, from the Ipswich space of Suffolk, has been taken into custody following forensic examination of things referring to the case.
Ms Dunne, 75, was discovered useless in her house in Britannia Street, Easton, by a neighbour almost 60 years in the past. A evaluate into the loss of life started final 12 months.
She had been raped and strangled to loss of life in her entrance room.
DI Dave Marchant mentioned: ‘That is an especially important second in an appalling and distressing case which has remained unsolved for nearly six many years.
‘We have recognized and spoken to Louisa Dunne’s subsequent of kin to replace them on this improvement and specialist household liaison officers will now be supporting them – to maintain them up to date on the progress of our investigation but additionally to make sure they get entry to any specialist help they could want.
‘An arrest was made earlier in the present day by officers from Avon and Somerset Police and there can be operational police exercise within the Ipswich space in consequence.
A evaluate into the loss of life of Ms Dunne, 75, (pictured) started in 2023. She was discovered useless in her house in Britannia Street, Easton, by a neighbour almost 60 years in the past
The person, from the Ipswich space of Suffolk, has been taken into custody following forensic examination of things referring to the case. Pictured: Police outdoors the Bristol house in 1967
Ms Dunne was mentioned to have stored to herself and lived alone at her Bristol house. Pictured: Britannia Street, Easton
‘We might wish to thank our colleagues in Suffolk Police for his or her ongoing assist and help.
‘We recognise this will even come as a shock to the group in Easton. Whereas this tragic incident occurred a very long time in the past, there can be individuals who keep in mind what occurred and will have had a reference to Louisa by way of household or pals.
‘The Neighbourhood Policing Staff are finishing up patrols of the world, so please communicate to an officer you probably have any worries or issues.
‘As this investigation is at a important part and to guard the integrity of any future legal proceedings, we cannot be capable of affirm the complete particulars, however we’re completely dedicated to proceed finishing up a radical investigation to try to convey Louisa’s family the solutions they’ve waited a lifetime for.’
Ms Dunne was mentioned to have stored to herself and lived alone at her Bristol house.
In her earlier life, she had been amongst Bristol’s social class, as she was married to metropolis alderman Teddy Parker. He was heading in the right direction to grow to be the town’s mayor earlier than his loss of life.
Neighbours mentioned she had gone right into a state of decline after the loss of life of her second husband, an evening watchman, simply years earlier than her homicide.
She was solely discovered useless in her entrance room after an area noticed her window was open.
Police believed the killer had damaged into her house between 11.30pm and 4am, and located a handprint close to the open window. Pictured: A police sergeant research palm prints
They discovered her wearing a black velvet coat and scarf with strangulation marks round her throat.
Police believed the killer had damaged into her house between 11.30pm and 4am, and located a handprint close to the open window.
There was no signal of a battle in her house.
The evening earlier than her horrific loss of life, Ms Dunne had spent the night with considered one of her closest pals, 79-year-old Alice Clarke.
‘Generally she would keep just a few minutes however this time she stayed longer than normal,’ Mrs Clarke instructed the Bristol Night Submit.
‘She got here at about 5.15pm and left at about 7.30pm.
‘We had a little bit of custard and stewed gooseberry. When she left she mentioned, as she all the time did, ‘Good evening. God bless. I do not know once I’ll be seeing thee’.’
Officers additionally rounded up the town’s ‘tramps and vagrants’ and introduced them in for questioning, with some 21 picked up in police patrol vehicles in a single swoop.
‘We discovered them sleeping in countryside, empty homes and parks,’ one detective mentioned. ‘They acquired a free meal afterwards.’ All had been eradicated from the inquiry.
Police hunted for the killer, taking palm prints from 1000’s of males aged between 16 and 60 within the Easton space.
Detective Chief Inspector Frederick Cross, who was engaged on the case, mentioned: ‘We’re getting 100 per cent co-operation from the general public for this tough job.
‘Folks have been coming into the station and volunteering their prints and ringing us as much as inform us when they are going to be house.’
A group of eight had been mentioned to be checking and re-checking the prints for as much as 15 hours a day – with a pile of 5,000 to be checked out.
After every print was cleared, it was filed away and officers mentioned as soon as the hunt for the killer was over, the prints can be destroyed by being thrown right into a sack earlier than being burnt at Bridewell police station.
