(In Bristol) Man, 92, guilty of 1967 rape and murder of woman

A cold case dating back nearly six decades has finally been solved, as 92-year-old Ryland Headley was found guilty of the rape and murder of Louisa Dunne in Bristol. The attack happened in June 1967, when Mrs Dunne, a well-known 75-year-old woman who lived alone on Britannia Road in Easton, was discovered dead on her living room floor. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled. Despite extensive police efforts at the time  collecting 19,000 fingerprints, interviewing 2,000 people, and conducting 8,000 house-to-house inquiries  no suspect was ever identified.

It was only years later, when Avon and Somerset Police reopened the investigation, that modern DNA technology provided a breakthrough. A sample containing semen from the original crime scene was re-examined, and DNA analysis linked it to Headley. In addition, a palm print taken from a rear window of Mrs Dunne’s house matched Headley’s, further strengthening the case.

Detective Inspector Dave Marchant called Headley a “dangerous serial offender” and described the moment police confirmed the DNA match as “a moment of gravity.” At the time of the attack, Headley was in his 30s. His other known crimes, which included raping two elderly widows in Suffolk in 1977, were described as eerily similar in nature. Despite being a convicted rapist, Headley had denied any involvement in Louisa Dunne’s murder. He was formally charged in November 2024 and faced trial at Bristol Crown Court.

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Ryland Headley, now aged 92, has been found guilty of the rape and murder of Louisa Dunne in a case that has become the oldest cold case solved in UK history. The case had remained unsolved since 1967, when Mrs Dunne, a 75-year-old widow, was found strangled in her Bristol home after a neighbour noticed she had not collected her morning paper. Residents reported hearing a terrifying scream the night before, but despite intense police work at the time, including collecting tens of thousands of fingerprints and statements, no suspect was caught.

The major breakthrough came after Avon and Somerset Police reopened the case and applied modern forensic science to preserved evidence. A DNA match from a semen sample linked Headley directly to the crime. In addition, forensic experts matched a palm print found on a rear window of Mrs Dunne’s home to Headley’s print. These developments sealed the case that had haunted the community for decades.

Detective Inspector Dave Marchant described the investigation as a blend of traditional policing and modern science. He called Headley a “predatory” man with a pattern of targeting elderly women. In fact, Headley had previously admitted to breaking into homes and raping two other elderly widows in 1977, crimes for which he had already been convicted. These similarities helped investigators build a strong case against him.

Louisa Dunne had been widowed twice and was known for her kindness and independence. Her brutal murder shocked the local area, and for years, her family and neighbours had no closure. The guilty verdict has brought some relief, as well as recognition of the determination and persistence of the cold case unit. Headley is expected to be sentenced on Tuesday for both the rape and murder.