UK - Carol Morgan, 36, murdered in her sweet shop, Leighton Buzzard, 13 Aug 1981 *Arrests in 2019*

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Tortoise

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Two pensioners have been arrested over the murder of a woman found dead in a Bedfordshire shop almost four decades ago.

The body of Carol Morgan, 36, was discovered at Morgan's Store in Leighton Buzzard in August 1981.

And now, 38 years later, police arrested a 69-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman in Brighton on suspicion of murdering her.

They are currently being questioned in custody following their arrest on Wednesday, Bedfordshire Police said.

Two pensioners arrested over 1981 cold case murder
 
Carol Morgan's body was found at Morgan's Store in Finch Crescent, Linslade, on 13 August 1981. She was 36 years old at the time.

She had been repeatedly hit about the head with a sharp object in the store room.

21550728-7732747-image-a-49_1574889039742.jpg


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Police pictured outside a house in Woodingdean following the arrest of an elderly couple over the 1981 murder of Carol Morgan on Wednesday evening

Elderly Brighton couple arrested over 1981 murder of woman | Daily Mail Online
 
An article from 2006 (25th anniversary of Carol's murder) -

Carol Morgan was found lying dead in the storeroom of her shop in Finch Crescent after being savagely attacked with a meat cleaver...

[..]

The Citizen spoke to Brian Prickett, the former detective superintendent who led the investigation 25 years ago, who said the chances of finding the killer could rest on two tiny fingerprints that have never been identified.

[...]

The key suspect at the time was a 17 to 20-year-old man seen near the shop at 7.20pm on the evening of the murder. He got into a green estate car clutching two bags, and Brian still believes he was the killer.

[...]

he was shocked to receive an anonymous letter just a few years ago, claiming to say who the killer was – and amazingly the person named was someone arrested at the time. The tip was investigated and discounted.

Killer can still be caught – 25 years on
 
This is an extract from a book written a few years ago by a local policeman -

The other murder
was of housewife and mother Carol Morgan who, with her husband, ran
the sweet shop in Finch Crescent. Again this was just before I joined
the police but PC Steve Wilkinson who 'tutored' me was involved in
house-to-house enquiries for this incident. The husband had taken his
two children out to the cinema for the evening, something he had
never done before. The wife was left on her own in the shop over
which they lived. He returned to find her hacked about with an axe in
the shop's storeroom and very dead. There was blood everywhere, the
only clue to the offender was one bloody thumb print left on the lid
of a freezer. To this day this fingerprint is automatically checked
when men over a certain age are arrested and their prints taken. One
day he will be found. CID Superintendent Brian Pricket was in charge
of this murder investigation and a car seen near the scene of the
crime was a green Vauxhall estate car. He ordered that all green
estate cars of this type were to be traced and checked. This
eventually led to a huge countrywide search for these cars as no one
knew just how many there were; they proved to be very numerous
indeed!

The Last Linslade Bobby. Chapter Four Part One. | ABCtales
 
DI Waite added that investigations would continue near to Morgan's Store and in the Brighton area.

"I hope that with the passage of time, anyone who now feels able to come forward with any information has the confidence to do so," he said.

"Any details, no matter how small, could be vital."

Anyone with information about the death of Ms Morgan is asked to contact the dedicated Operation Markdown incident room on 01480 422796.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Two pensioners arrested over Carol Morgan 1981 murder - LBC
 
Tortoise said:
The key suspect at the time was a 17 to 20-year-old man seen near the shop at 7.20pm on the evening of the murder. He got into a green estate car clutching two bags, and Brian still believes he was the killer.

Killer can still be caught – 25 years on
Click to expand...

This 17-21 year old key suspect would now be 55-59. Seems unlikely it's the same man who was arrested this week, who would have been 31 back then.
 
Man and woman bailed over 1981 cold case murder

'A man and woman have been released on police bail after being arrested on suspicion of murdering a woman in a shop nearly four decades ago.'

'Police said inquires were continuing in Brighton and work was being carried out in the vicinity of the shop, close to Leighton Buzzard.'

'Officers are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.'
 
Case update murder charges today.


Detectives investigating the death of a woman near Leighton Buzzard nearly 40 years ago have today arrested two people on suspicion of murder.

Carol Morgan’s body was found at Morgan’s Store in Finch Crescent, Linslade, on 13 August 1981. She was 36 years old at the time.

Today (Wednesday), a 70-year-old man and a 72-year-old woman from Brighton were arrested on both suspicion of her murder and conspiracy to murder. They are currently in police custody for questioning.

Detective Chief Inspector Carl Foster from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit said: “While no-one has ever been charged in connection with Carol’s death we remain committed to bringing those responsible to justice and finding out the truth for her family.

“I want people to know that no murder investigation is ever closed. Our Cold Case Unit reviews every unsolved murder and works tirelessly to explore all investigative opportunities which are available.

“That includes new evidence from witnesses or people with information - it’s never too late to share something which could help this investigation. Any details, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem, could be vital.”

Anyone with information about the death of Carol Morgan is asked to contact the dedicated Operation Markdown incident room number on 01480 422796.

Information can also be provided on the Operation Markdown page on the Major Incident Public Portal site Public Portal
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From 2 days ago, before the new arrests.
_____

Carol Morgan cold case murder police seek to trace two women

[...]

Bedfordshire Police hopes to trace Diane Porter and Suzanne Williams, who lived in the Linslade area at the time.

The force said it was "important to state that neither person is suspected of any involvement in the matter".

Carol Morgan cold case murder police seek to trace two women
 
From Ancestry based on GRO (public) indexes (with spelling mistakes in transcription)

Marriage -

NameAllfn J Morgan
Registration DateJan 1977[Feb 1977][Mar 1977]
Registration QuarterJan-Feb-Mar
Registration districtSwindon
Inferred CountyWiltshire
SpouseCarol P Curtis
Volume Number23
Page number1441

Death of Carol -

NameCarol Patricia Morgan
Death Age34
Birth Date26 Dec 1946
Registration DateJul 1981[Aug 1981][Sep 1981]
Registration QuarterJul-Aug-Sep
Registration districtHelston Buzzard
Volume09
Page289/j83

marriage -

NameAllen J Morgan
Registration DateOct 1982[Nov 1982][Dec 1982]
Registration QuarterOct-Nov-Dec
Registration districtSheffield
Inferred CountySouth Yorkshire
SpouseMargaret A Spooner
Volume Number3
Page number1081
 
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