It was difficult to see, but as his eyes became accustomed to the darkness, something caught his eye. It was a plastic bag floating in the remnants of the petrol. Billy hollered to Mick, telling him to look at what was inside the bag. Mick waded through the sludge and approached the out-of-place object. It was evident by the shape and the way it moved that there was something inside. As he lifted the plastic bag, the contents fell out. Like something from a nightmare, the large object that was now in the sludge appeared to be a human torso…
Some say the perfect time to visit Scotland is in the Autumn, around the Halloween period. Halloween originates from the Celtic festival of the ‘Feast of Samhain’, celebrated in Scotland, Ireland and on the Isle of Man from October 31st until November 1st. During this festival, people lit bonfires as a way to ward off unwelcome spirits. Many of these traditions were carried on through the centuries and influenced what is known as Halloween today. Each year, thousands of tourists flock to Scotland. But on Halloween night, 2014, a mystery was beginning to unravel, a mystery that still endures eight years later…
It was shortly before 10 AM when several locals spotted an old, damaged red Fiat Punto. It appeared as though the vehicle had recently been in an accident. Two men were inside the car, one driving and one in the front passenger’s seat. The vehicle was slowly navigating the remote country roads throughout the village and the surrounding area, so unsurprisingly, it caught the attention of several people. The strange behaviour of the men, combined with the damage to their vehicle, raised concerns that they could be burglars, looking for a large countryside home to break into…
Lower Park Road is a leafy residential area located in the large seaside town of Hastings in England. Fronted by the picturesque Alexandra Park, the area boasts large Victorian-era style homes, surrounded by shops and parks, a short distance from the beach. In 1997, Hastings no longer saw the volume of tourists it once did — some old empty properties had been turned into flats and hostels; others were a base for patients released under the care in the community scheme. Although some parts of the once popular resort town had been neglected, Lower Park Road remained a desirable area to live. However, residents began to raise concerns about prowlers in the area…
On a cold and crisp winter's morning, January 25, 1970, the body of a young boy is found in a watery ditch at a farm near Ponteland in Northumberland. Just two years earlier, two little boys had been strangled by another child, and although the culprit had been caught, investigators wondered if something eerily similar had happened to Allan Graham…
“The prisoner is probably the youngest person actively concerned in the investigation of this case. You may build round a case of this kind, a mountain of motive, you may surround it with suspicion, but if you do not prove the person - whose death you are investigating - was murdered, your mountain of motive and all your suspicion are without value” - James Dale Cassels, Sussex Assizes, March 1930.
Imagine you grow up unaware of your family history, not knowing why you were adopted, oblivious to the fact that you are the only evidence of a crime — you are walking, talking proof it happened, and your DNA is the key…
A young couple are found brutally murdered in their flat in Newcastle’s West End. The investigation into their deaths exposes a shadowy underworld of illegal betting scams, and traverses continents as detectives try to find the person responsible…
Murdertown, the Crime+Investigation original podcast, is back for a new series on Monday, September 12, 2022. Alongside the Crime+Investigation TV show, we'll explore the darker sides of our towns. With eight-episode locations covering all four corners of the UK, make sure to follow on your favourite podcast player.
The 1980s were plagued by a string of rapes and murders carried out near train stations in and around London. Fear spread to commuters throughout the country. DNA analysis had yet to become standard practice, and the perpetrators, sly and elusive, left investigators increasingly desperate to crack the case…
Daniel Hathaway, more commonly known as Danny, left his home at a travellers site off Gretton Brook Road in Corby, Northamptonshire. Shortly after receiving a phone call, the 44-year-old, who worked as a mechanic, had told Diane, his partner of around 15 years, that he was just popping out. Still dressed in his blue-grey overalls with a green logo that read “Just Transits”, Danny exited the blue and cream-coloured double-decker bus where he lived with his partner and their children, Samuel and Ellie. Danny was expected back home later that evening on Wednesday, February 7th, 2007…
It was busy that night in Whitechapel, East London. The music was blaring, but none of the guests seemed concerned about the noise from the flat. They were there for the party…