Corporate Services
Your Ref: Our Ref: FOI /15 Date: /01/2015
Contact Name: Tel. Extension: 545251 Telephone No: 101
Dear Chris,
I write with reference to your recent request regarding unsolved murders.
Please could you supply me with a list of unsolved murders of unaccompanied females which occurred between 1982 and 2012. Including name, age, date, location and nature of offence.
I can confirm the following detail.
1. Florence Jackson Date of Offence; 13/05/92 Location; Winchelsea Nature of Offence; Elderly victim suffering from dementia, incapable of walking. Believed taken from car and thrown into the River Brede. Sheila Bowler convicted, but acquitted on appeal.
2.Irene Herring age 85 Date of Offence; 01/02/09 Location; Bexhill Nature of Offence. Elderly victim resident at care home, died as a result of smoke inhalation. Suspect Rebecca Reasbeck (staff member at home) charged with murder but acquitted at court.
3. Karen Hadaway and Nicola Fellows aged 9 and 10 Date of Offence ; 10/10/86 Location ; Wild Park Brighton Nature of Offence; Two young victims found in Wild Park, Brighton, having been strangled and sexually assaulted. Russell Bishop charged but acquitted at court.
4. Emma Steel age 32 Date of Offence; 11/07/96 Location; Rye Nature of Offence: Pregnant Victim beaten at her home address, and premises set alight. Suspect Simon Hayward believed to be in a relationship with victim whilst engaged to another female. He was charged but acquitted at court.
5. Elaine Taggart age 48 Date of Offence; 04/01/08 Location; Goring Nature of Offence; Victim went missing with no explanation, husband Simon Taggart arrested on suspicion of murder, but not charged.
6. Carmel Pendry age 16 Date of Offence; 01/05/98 Location; Missing from Crawley, believed to be in London Nature of Offence. Victim is officially missing, there have been no sightings of her since this time. Included on this list as it is suspected she may have come to harm.
7. Jennifer Keily age 34 Date of Offence; 21/02/05 Location; Eastbourne Seafront Nature of Offence; Female found deceased in seafront shelter. Had been assaulted and set alight. Undetected.
8. Louise Goble age 11 (and Brother Robert age 4) Date of Offence; 03/02/85 Location; Hastings Nature of Offence; Victims at home in bed, and house deliberately set alight. Parents managed to escape but two victims were unable to be saved. Undetected.
9.Billy Jade Talbot age 6 months Date of Offence; 10/02/92 Location; Hastings Nature Of Offence; Death of child, who was found to have injuries. Michelle Talbot and Brian Hall arrested and interviewed, neither charged. Hall now deceased. Undetected.
10.Katrina Taylor age 19 Date of Offence; 05/07/96 Location; Brighton Nature Of Offence. Victim taken from street ,to home address of suspects, then to churchyard and stabbed. Scollan, Smith, Williams and Williams charged and convicted, acquitted on appeal.
11. Billie Jo Jenkins age 12 Date of Offence; 15/02/97 Location; Hastings Nature of Offence; Juvenile victim found murdered at home, beaten with a tent peg. Foster father Sion Jenkins charged and convicted, then acquitted on appeal. There were two re-trials of Mr Jenkins in which the juries were unable to reach verdicts.
12. Louise Kay age 18 Date of Offence; 01/06/98 Location; Eastbourne Nature of Offence; Louise Kay and her vehicle went missing after a night out with friends. Neither Louise or vehicle ever located. Officially as missing person, however included on this list as she may have come to harm.
13. Katalina Salazar-White age 7 weeks Date of Offence; 19/05/99 Location; Died at Guy's hospital London, assaults believed occurred at home address in Lewes Nature of Offence; Child victim subject of prolonged assault. Father Alvano Salazar-Serrano charged with murder but acquitted at court.
14. Lynda Shelford age 51 Date of Offence; 01/01/96 Location; West Wittering Nature of Offence; Victim left home for work and never arrived. Estranged partner Alan Wood arrested but not charged. Yours sincerely,
Roger Brace Freedom of Information Officer
To: Chris Clark By: e-mail
Right of Appeal Sussex Police provides you the right to request a re-examination of your case by the Force Information officer under its internal review procedure by e-mail to [email protected]
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