Cops reveal new clue in gruesome 1982 cold case murder

By Isobel Williams

Cold case cops investigating the brutal murder of a pensioner more than 40 years ago have revealed a new clue in their hunt for the mystery killer.

Esme Hoad, 85, was beaten around the head and stabbed in the chest by an intruder at her home in Tonbridge, Kent in 1982.

The case was never solved and in December Kent Police issued a new appeal - highlighting that the killer had left behind a footprint with the sold branding "banana."

Now, lead investigator Detective Inspector Lee Neiles has offered up more information - revealing the print was between a UK size three and six.

He said this was "relatively small for an adult male" - and reiterated that anyone with information should contact his force.

DI Neiles said: “I would be surprised if whoever has done this hasn’t said anything to anyone. That may not necessarily be a complete confession. It could be just some snippet of something they have done.

“It could be a family member, it could be pub talk in the local pub, it could be something in prison.

“They have said something to someone and we are relying on that someone to put two and two together. Those that were in the area at the time, really rack your brains.”

Esme’s body was found by police at her home in in Havelock Road on December 8 after concerned neighbours reported she had not been seen for several days.

Her body was behind the front door with "significant blood" around her head area. Her positioning suggests a likelihood that the killer left through another means, such as the kitchen.

There was no sign of forced entry, which police say suggests that Esme opened the door to whoever the murderer was.

No weapon was ever recovered, but they believe it was something heavy and rounded used to cause the head injury.

The main line of enquiry in the investigation at the time surrounded an unknown couple who were believed to have visited the victim’s address in a blue Mini Traveller looking for antiques.

There was no evidence of burglary, but it was suspected that porcelain figures of a young girl, and a tiger ready to pounce were missing, along with a brass lamp.

However, the couple were never found, and due to the violence of the attack and the low value of the missing items, DI Neiles says he is not convinced that it was a burglary.

He added: “It was a particularly brutal murder. She was so vulnerable that this level of violence was just not needed. That’s why I am struggling to comprehend that this was a burglary.

“It just seems so over the top for a burglary, but that is not to say that it is not. We need to keep an open mind and consider all possibilities.

“What gets me is the extreme nature of the attack. It was so brutal for someone so vulnerable. This was an intent to kill without a shadow of a doubt.”

Crimestoppers offered a $40,000 reward for information with would lead to Esme's killer's conviction when Kent Police reaired the case.

Since then, DI Neiles he says that they have had five calls with new pieces of information, which they are looking into.

They have also used evidence grabbed from the scene at the time to create a DNA profile of the killer, which they will now compare with anyone investigated previously.

There is still no strong evidence of who the killer was, or how many of them there were, but DI Neiles however believes that someone out there knows who it is.

DI Neiles said: “The main thing that we have done is started from scratch. We pulled back all the boxes of material that we could find.

“There are over 1500 major enquiry logs. But it is important that we don’t just skim it. We are going through it with a fine-toothed comb to try and find those gaps in the investigation.

“There is a boot print in blood, or several, at the scene and it has been established that they are of a banana boot.

“We have recently established that the investigation team worked out the boot size was between a three and a six. That is relatively small for an adult male.”

Another piece that officers are calling for is a photo of Esme, as she was the last surviving member of her family, so they still haven’t been able to share what she looks like.

The SIO of the case says that it can be frustrating missing so many pieces of the puzzle, but he still feels that police did the best that they could with the technology available.

He said: “Back in the 80s there was a heavy reliance on witnesses and people talking. Whereas today there is an abundance of modern technology which can help us.

“Policing has changed a lot in 40 years. Modern day policing has a different mentality and we have got a lot more of an open mind. It is frustrating sometimes.

“The fact that some of these officers from 1982 and 1983 still remember this case shows how impactive it was.”

Kent Police said: "If you have information which may assist the investigation, call 01303 289600 quoting AC/1400/82.

"You can also provide information through our online portal. If you prefer to remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or by using their online form."