Bristol, UK — After nearly six decades of unanswered questions, a 92-year-old man has been found guilty of the brutal rape and murder of 75-year-old Louisa Dunne, whose lifeless body was discovered in her Easton home in 1967.
Convicted rapist Ryland Headley, of Clarence Road in Ipswich, was found guilty by a jury at Bristol Crown Court, bringing closure to one of Britain’s oldest unsolved murder cases.
Louisa Dunne, twice widowed and known for her warm presence in the Easton community, was found strangled on her living room floor by a neighbour on 28 June 1967, after she failed to collect her morning newspaper.
“This verdict brings some measure of justice for a horrific crime that left a legacy of misery and pain,” said Detective Inspector Dave Marchant, the senior investigating officer. “Ryland Headley is a dangerous serial offender with a shocking and abhorrent history.”
At the time of the crime, Headley was in his 30s and managed to evade justice for decades despite a massive police effort. Authorities collected 19,000 fingerprints, conducted 8,000 house-to-house inquiries, and took over 2,000 statements, yet no prime suspect emerged.
It wasn’t until modern forensic technology was applied to the case that a breakthrough came. A re-examination of preserved evidence revealed semen on a swab taken from the scene, which, through DNA analysis, was matched to Headley.
“There was a sense of gravity when we received the DNA match,” Marchant stated. “This case is a powerful example of how old-school detective work and modern forensic science can come together to deliver justice, even after 58 years.”
In addition to the DNA link, fingerprint experts matched a palm print found on the rear window of Mrs Dunne’s home to Headley.
Headley was arrested at his Ipswich residence in November 2024. During the investigation, it was revealed that he had previously raped two elderly widows, aged 84 and 79, in Suffolk in October 1977, attacks police described as “eerily similar” to Mrs Dunne’s murder.
Despite the mounting evidence, Headley denied both the rape and murder charges related to Mrs Dunne. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday.
“This is believed to be the oldest cold case ever solved in the UK,” said DI Marchant. “It proves that we never stop seeking justice, no matter how much time has passed.”
