UK UK - Susan Donoghue, 44, Bristol, 4 Aug 1976

Bristol police make breakthrough in cold case murder

Detectives hunting the killer of a nurse bludgeoned to death at her home 40 years ago have made a DNA breakthrough.

Susan Donoghue was sexually assaulted and killed with a truncheon by an intruder in Bristol on 4 August 1976.

The body of the 44-year-old was discovered in her basement flat by her partner. Donoghue had been unwell and had taken the night off from work when she was attacked in bed as she slept. She was hit seven times with a truncheon, which was left behind along with a pair of bloodstained gloves and a tobacco tin. Despite an extensive investigation the killer was never caught.

But due to advances in scientific technology Avon and Somerset police now have a full DNA profile of the suspect.

Click to expand...

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/aug/04/bristol-police-make-breakthrough-in-cold-case

(I wasn't sure where to put this and couldn't find an earlier thread. If it's in the wrong place can the mods please move it?)

DNA breakthrough in the hunt to find killer of nurse bludgeoned to death 40 years ago

Susan Donoghue was sexually assaulted and killed with a truncheon by an intruder at her home in Bristol on August 5 1976.

The body of the 44-year-old, who was a night sister at Brentry Hospital, was discovered in her basement flat by her partner.

She had been unwell and had taken the night off from work when she was attacked in bed as she slept.

Ms Donoghue was hit seven times with a truncheon, which was left behind along with a pair of bloodstained gloves and a tobacco tin.

The summer of 1976 was one of the warmest on record and the murder shocked Bristol.

Click to expand...

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/69...eoned-death-bristol-detectives-Susan-Donoghue

Bumping..
1 JAN 2018
Nurse battered to death with truncheon and sexually assaulted

Nurse Susan Donoghue (top right) was battered to death and sexually assaulted in her Bristol flat
"Susan was a lovely woman who had trained as a nurse and left Ireland. There were a number of suspects at the time of her death, but obviously none of them were ever brought to justice."
"Their investigation also saw the discovery of a hallmarked silver bracelet, thought to belong to the Irish nurse who worked at Brentry Hospital, found in the garden of a house in Stoke Hill.

Evidence suggested that Susan had been subjected to a sexual assault and forensic tests confirmed the presence of human semen."

"I am convinced that someone out there has information on what happened that August night in 1976. I would appeal directly to them, or the killer himself, to come forward now and bring an end to the years of heartache Susan's family and friends have had to endure."
"Anyone with information is asked to call 101 now and quote Operation Radar. Alternatively, information can be left anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

Nurse battered to death with truncheon and sexually assaulted
A truncheon like the one found at the scene of Susan Donoghue's murder

Eager to learn what became of the full DNA, have they identified the perp yet?
rbbm.
Nurse battered to death with truncheon and sexually assaulted
Jan 2018
"The technology used in DNA forensics has come a long way since Susan was murdered and we now have a full DNA profile of the man who sexually abused and murdered her," she said.''
2016

Could DNA solve the murder of a nurse 40 years ago? | ITV News
''Detectives collected evidence at the time - including the murderer's gloves, a tobacco tin he dropped.''

Police collected evidence at the scene, including the killer's DNA Credit: Avon & Somerset Police
''They have had a DNA profile of the killer, but there is no match on the National DNA Register.''
rbbm

Familial dna search?

Bumping for Susan - it's now been 37 years.