A violent criminal who was on the run from prison may have been responsible for the murder of Ann Heron, whose throat was cut at her home near Darlington in August 1990, an investigator has claimed.
Investigator Jen Jarvie has identified Michael Benson, who died in 2011, as a 'viable suspect'. Benson was an escaped prisoner with a history of violence, including assault with a shotgun, robbery with a carving knife, and burglary. His whereabouts were unknown to police at the time of the murder, and he had ties to the local area.
Ann Heron, 44, had been sunbathing in her garden on the afternoon of 3 August 1990, with the last sighting at 15:30 BST. Her body was found in the living room by her husband Peter at around 18:00, with no signs of a struggle.
Peter Heron, now 85, was charged with murder in 2005 but the case was later dropped. He said he had been 'through hell' and had 'high hopes' that the perpetrator may finally have been identified. The case featured on BBC's Crimewatch in October 1990, where viewers were told a blue car had been seen outside the house at about 16:45.
Durham Police said that while there is no active investigation into Mrs Heron's death, the case would 'never be closed' and any new information would be 'fully considered'.
