UK - Julia James, 53, murdered, Snowdown, Kent, 27 April 2021 *ARREST*

[Marg from Oz]

Let's hope they are gathering every conceivable camera in all routs surrounding the area. Cameras have made a great difference in a few previous cases. MOO

 

[JuicyLucy]

Let's hope they are gathering every conceivable camera in all routs surrounding the area. Cameras have made a great difference in a few previous cases. MOO

Sadly not, I think:

Assistant Chief Constable Richards stated that the lack of CCTV down the rural lane where Julia's body was found has already ruled out a crucial potential source of information, and though Julia was found just a few hundred yards from her house, much of her journey will not have been recorded at all.

As a result, when asked to comment on how confident Kent Police are that they will find the perpetrator, Richards simply stated that it was, "impossible to say."

5 key revelations from police on day 3 of Julia James murder enquiry

 

[MissMactavish]

She has been mentioned as a wife by the family in a variety of articles.


Julia James murder: Police search for clues as family speak out

 

[TheTruthWillOut]

I've been quietly following this case here from the beginning hoping it would quickly get solved but that is looking less likely by the day.

One thing I've noticed is the early articles specifically stated Julia was found on the bridle path and pictures of a forensic tent on the path seemed to corroborate this, but the latest BBC/KentLive articles for e.g. are now saying she was found in woodland. A small detail that may have significance?

I do believe (hope?) the police have a very good idea of who is responsible but need some clear evidence or a mistake from the perp(s).

 

[MissMactavish]

Sorry I am making a complete mess trying to post, I am new although lurked for a long time. I realised my previous post might have been misconstrued, I am glad the Family are as one, God only knows what they are going through and they will need each other more than ever. To have their Wife , Mother, Gramdmother so cruelly taken away is tragic beyond words. A terrible loss to her Family and to the people she helped as part of her work. God rest her beautiful soul.

 

[SocksKitty]

I need to ask:
If the dog had disappeared would this have constituted a dog-napping gone right?
In which case it would have been a murder gone right as well because it was totally successful. Using a blunt instrument to bludgeon someone to death must have been done intentionally.
I think all of these 'gone wrong' terms are totally inappropriate altogether, and they most certainly do, in my mind, minimise such serious crimes, the term creates an impression that a murder is some kind of mishap, whereas it is committed by someone both equipped and willing to kill.
If the term is to be contemplated, it should be accompanied by some detail of just how and what might have gone wrong?
I'm not suggesting that posters shouldn't use the term, just saying it makes no sense, it needs to be explained.

I think lots of things can go wrong for example sadomasochistic sex games ending in a fatality. It is certainly not minimising crimes but mistakes do happen leading to maybe a far greater criminal conviction than the perpetrator may have expected. People on this group are just trying to work out just what happened in this instance of a lone dog walker killed and left in full view with no apparent motive. What was the original intent of the person who killed Julia?. Was it a cold blooded murder or did something go very wrong from what they intended?.

 

[Marulinka]

Very puzzling indeed. I wish we had abit more snippets of information...anything really. Every detail could be crucial. I hope Police have more info to help them determine solid lines of inquiry to pursue at least...

Anybody local to the village or area here?

 

[Pinkizzy]

[/QUOTE] This is what sticks out for me. People walk dogs at all hours of the day, and it’s very unusual not to come across other people out and about. I’m really surprised at the audacity of an attacker who thought they’d not be noticed by anyone else.[/QUOTE]

It suggests they've done this before and got away with it. The Russells (Chilenden murders) lived in Nonington and a few weeks ago a dog walker was approached by a man in Nonington

Man in van 'tried to accost dog walker close to PCSO murder scene days earlier'

 

[Skigh]

Very puzzling indeed. I wish we had abit more snippets of information...anything really. Every detail could be crucial. I hope Police have more info to help them determine solid lines of inquiry to pursue at least...

Anybody local to the village or area here?

I imagine locals have been giving any details to the police which will not be made public. The village where Julia lived was very small so the chance of someone with knowledge of the on going case and any insider knowledge must be greatly reduced .
In the Sarah Everard case it was a totally different situation with many local people joining Websleuths to discuss the case.

The Police will have received information from the p.m so will have a good idea of the weapon used . The people who discovered her body might have additional information about anyone else they saw in the area. Police might have been able to trace which route the murderer took out of the fields. Locals could have noticed an unknown car in the area.

I am not sure whether the police have some one they suspect is guilty and are still trying to collect evidence before arresting them or whether they really have no idea who could be responsible.

 

[Grouse]

But how did they escape that area unnoticed, on foot it looks a good 10-15 mins to a road and an unusual car would be obvious on those country lanes, does this suggest they return home locally all on foot?

<quote snipped for focus>

Another possibility is train. Highly risky but I see nearby Snowdown station is on a direct line between Dover and Victoria with regular trains in each direction.

If the witness sighting at 3PM is accurate the time of the attack is probably between 3.15 and 3.45 - from there the perpetrator could probably have made it on to the 3:59 to Victoria before Julia was found at 4PM.

Edited to add: I measured the route from the crime scene to the station via the eastward path to Aylesham Road, and then turning right and continuing on that road to the station - it is 0.55 miles, about 8 minutes at a brisk walking pace.

 

[sundaaaay]

It’s understandably extremely difficult to piece together a crime in a location like this and the nature of the attack.

Very little evidence so far, could be a local who dislikes her but my gut feeling is that the attacker was not known to her, completely random/opportunistic and it is a coincidence she is a police officer. It would be interesting to know if she was hit from the front or behind.

I wonder if the attacker is possibly quite young. It would have to be someone at least familiar with the area but perhaps not exactly local. They would have to be quite strong and quick to get away. MOO

 

[Skigh]

Police hunting PCSO Julia James' killer warn locals to tell family exactly where they are going | Daily Mail Online


Meanwhile the National Crime Agency (NCA) have today joined the investigation, it has been revealed.

The NCA primarily focuses on organised crime, human, weapon and drug trafficking, cyber crime and economic crime that goes across regional and international borders.

However they can be brought into any investigation where it is needed. The NCA's extensive experience in cyber crime is one of its key assets to local police forces.

A National Crime Agency spokesperson said: 'The NCA's Major Crime Investigative Support unit is providing specialist support and advice to the ongoing Kent Police investigation.'

The spokesperson did not give specific details into why the NCA had been called into help the investigation.

 

[Rosegold68]

could the perpetrator have been female?

doesn't appear to be sexually motivated
doesn't appear to be an attempt to hide the body

 

[Grouse]

Whenever I read bridleway I always think of cycle path. Maybe the assailant was on a bike which could explain how they disappeared fairly quickly. The big puzzle is the blunt trauma injury. This suggests a relatively weighty weapon - not something someone would carry when on a country walk. I'm reminded of the sad case of Alice Gross who was attacked by a Latvian builder on a bicycle. In fact my best guess at a suspect could be a builder cycling with some tools including a hammer in a rucksack. As for a motive - I think probably random or possibly there had been some previous encounter.

As a cyclist I do tend to associate bridleways with off road cycling as they are often used as cycle paths. Someone on a bike in normal clothing would tend to look suspicious in an off road/isolated setting, but if they were on a mountain bike or hybrid bike, and had a rucksack and all the gear on, they'd potentially not attract much attention.

 

[Sarahlou]

This dognapping idea is, IMO, getting out of hand now. No-one bludgeons a woman to death to (not) steal an elderly jack russell.



This is what sticks out for me. People walk dogs at all hours of the day, and it’s very unusual not to come across other people out and about. I’m really surprised at the audacity of an attacker who thought they’d not be noticed by anyone else.

I just keep thinking this was done by someone who is not of sound mind. I don't think it has anything to do with trying to take a dog at all.

 

[Pinkizzy]

Very puzzling indeed. I wish we had abit more snippets of information...anything really. Every detail could be crucial. I hope Police have more info to help them determine solid lines of inquiry to pursue at least...

Anybody local to the village or area here?

<quote snipped for focus>

Another possibility is train. Highly risky but I see nearby Snowdown station is on a direct line between Dover and Victoria with regular trains in each direction.

If the witness sighting at 3PM is accurate the time of the attack is probably between 3.15 and 3.45 - from there the perpetrator could probably have made it on to the 3:59 to Victoria before Julia was found at 4PM.

Edited to add: I measured the route from the crime scene to the station via the eastward path to Aylesham Road, and then turning right and continuing on that road to the station - it is 0.55 miles, about 8 minutes at a brisk walking pace.

Hopefully, the killer will be visible on the station cctv

 

[jd1066]

Detectives have today launched a murder probe after a female PCSO was found dead 'with her Jack Russell by her side' on a secluded pathway where she often walked the faithful dog in Kent.

The body of Julia James, 53, was found on the edge of Akholt Wood in Snowdown, near Aylesham, shortly after 4pm on Tuesday.

Kent Police has since launched a murder investigation in the wake of the unexplained death, which is understood to have taken place yesterday afternoon as the married mother-of-two walked her dog.



Woman is found dead on footpath in Kent village sparking huge police response | Daily Mail Online

 

[jd1066]

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[jd1066]

Detectives have today launched a murder probe after a female PCSO was found dead 'with her Jack Russell by her side' on a secluded pathway where she often walked the faithful dog in Kent.

The body of Julia James, 53, was found on the edge of Akholt Wood in Snowdown, near Aylesham, shortly after 4pm on Tuesday.

Kent Police has since launched a murder investigation in the wake of the unexplained death, which is understood to have taken place yesterday afternoon as the married mother-of-two walked her dog.



Woman is found dead on footpath in Kent village sparking huge police response | Daily Mail Online

Several attempted dognappings in area where murdered PCSO Julia James was found

 

[Scorpiette]

Several attempted dognappings in area where murdered PCSO Julia James was found

Strange that there's not a more detailed description of the man in a black BMW who wanted to swap *advertiser censored* for a dog. They suggest he could be in his 60s.
No mention of accent, hair colouring etc. Why the lack of detail?