COLD CASE: Operation Snowfall (The Playgirl, The Schoolgirl and The Croupier)

Murder Club is 5! So let’s explore an unsolved case which has links to one of Murder Clubs most popular case studies from our past five years.

On March 18th 1975, a snowy Monday, 21 year old Eve Stratford was found face down with her arms tied in her East London bedroom, her throat slit. Eve enjoyed life, she lived with her then boyfriend and kept constant contact with her parents in Warrington. Eve worked as a Bunnygirl and had just appeared as “Miss March” in Mayfair magazine, both of which could have opened many doors to her ambition of modelling and being happy for all her life as she felt in the months leading up to her death.

On 3rd September 1975, a sunny (yet windy) Wednesday, Lynne Weedon was on her way home after celebrating her “O” Level results when she was struck on the back of the head with a blunt object, pulled over the fence of a electricity substation, raped and left to die. Although found barely alive the next morning by her school caretaker, Lynne survived but never regained consciousness. She died one week later.

On January 19th 1979, a snowy Friday, 29-year old Lynda Farrow was discovered by her two young children after they returned from school that day. She was found face down and with her throat so severely slit she was almost decapitate. Links were forged by detectives of the time who to this day believe that “to find two women in a close area with their throats slit (even if years apart) is rare today, more so back then”. Lynda had been a croupier at the International Sporting Club located only a mile from the club Eve had been a Bunny Girl at.

Compared to both women, 16-year-old Lynne’s life seemed worlds away from Eve & Lynda. It was only in 2007 when semen samples taken at the murder scenes of Eve and Lynne were re-examined using improved DNA testing, that police realized that the same man had indeed been responsible.

In 2015, Crimewatch UK made a fresh appeal, focusing on both Eve & Lynne.

At the time, it was thought a possibility that they could well have been the work of an individual who started to terrorizing the North of England during the mid-70's.

Once apprehended in 1981, it was later established he had been in London a few days before Eve’s death, just 14 miles from her home. Furthermore, he was only 4 miles aware from Lynne’s home at the time of her murder. At the time of Lynda’s murder, an unknown man was seen in the area with thick hair and sideburns. This (then) unnamed serial killer would turn out to be a non-secretor. In the press he was dubbed “The Yorkshire Ripper”.

All evidence will be provided. All you need to bring is your brilliant minds! You'll be sent a link to a PDF booklet containing key information from the exhibits, ahead of the meeting.

PLEASE NOTE: This event is online owing to the Coronavirus pandemic. Attendance at this meet-up is £1, which covers the subscription costs of Zoom. A link to the Zoom meeting and PDF booklet will be posted in the event comments an hour before the event.

RSVP if you want to attend. Refund can be given 24 hours before the meet-up. Three strikes and you're out rule regarding no-shows.

Don't forget to join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MancDetectives

WARNING: Murder isn't a pretty sight. If you are sensitive to blood and gore then this probably isn't the place for you. Crime scene photos will be shown and graphic details shared.