Murder of Una Crown

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Coordinates: 52°39′37.2″N 00°08′43.2″E / 52.660333°N 0.145333°E / 52.660333; 0.145333
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52°39′37.2″N 00°08′43.2″E / 52.660333°N 0.145333°E / 52.660333; 0.145333

Una Crown
Born1926 or 1927
England
Died (aged 86)
Wisbech, England
Cause of deathMurder by stabbing

Una Crown (1926/1927 – 13 January 2013) was an 86-year-old widow who was murdered in her bungalow in Wisbech in Cambridgeshire, England, in 2013.[1] Her death was initially treated as unsuspicious but a post-mortem examination on her burned body concluded that she had died from stab wounds to her neck and chest.[2] At least one suspect was arrested but no individuals were charged. The brutality of the case and admission of police failure in the murder investigation gave the case national attention.[3] The case remains unsolved.[4]

Background[edit]

Crown was a retired postmistress who lived alone in Wisbech.[5] She had no children.[6] Her husband Jack Roland Crown died in 2009.[7]

Described as "very security-conscious",[8] Crown lived on the outskirts of Wisbech near Elgood's Brewery.[9] She was last seen on 11 January, and spoke to a friend on the telephone at 5 pm on 12 January.[9]

Murder investigation[edit]

On 13 January 2013, Crown was found dead in the hallway of her bungalow in Magazine Lane, Wisbech, by her nephew-in-law John Payne.[10] She was found surrounded by blood and burned newspaper;[11] her body was burned but the fire had not spread to the rest of the house and had self-extinguished.[12] Crown had been robbed of her wedding ring, front door key, and £40,[13] and her clothing had been burned, apparently to destroy evidence.[14]

Two attending police officers concluded the death was not suspicious, as they had thought she had accidentally set herself on fire via the stove, which she tried to put out with a tea towel, and had then died from a heart attack.[15] The police investigation concluded that "two slits to her throat" had most likely been torn by pressure from the scarf as her body fell to the floor.[3] A post-mortem on 15 January, however, found that Crown had been stabbed to death and a murder investigation was launched.[16][17] Because of the police's initial conclusion Crown's house had not been treated as a murder investigation crime scene, and evidence including a key had been washed.[15]

Crown's funeral was held at King's Lynn Crematorium on 25 February 2013.[18][19] In April 2013, Dainius Stelmokas admitted to burgling Crown's home on 4 April and stealing a number of electronic items.[20][21] The same month, a reconstruction and appeal was made by Crimewatch.[22]

On 17 June 2014, two men were arrested in connection to Crown's death but were released without charge.[23][24] In March 2023, a reward of up to £20,000 was offered by Crimestoppers for any information leading to a conviction.[25][26] The same month the case was featured again on Crimewatch.[27]

Review of police behaviour[edit]

A review found that "flawed decisions" were made by police when they failed to realise they were dealing with a murder scene.[16] The two officers first on the scene were found to have "breached the standards of professional behaviour".[16] The coroner condemned the "bungling" of the investigation.[28][29]

Eliza Bibby[edit]

On 10 January 2023, ten years after Crown's murder, the body of 47-year-old Eliza Bibby was found at her bungalow in Wisbech.[30] She had been stabbed in the neck, similar to how Crown had been killed.[31] Cambridgeshire Constabulary made three arrests,[32] charging one man with murder,[33][34] and launched a probe for possible links regarding the "striking similarities" between the two deaths.[35][36][37]

In October 2023, 47-year-old Jamie Boughen was found guilty of the murder of Eliza Bibby.[38] He was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 22 years.[39][40]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Briggs, Stephen (13 January 2023). "Una Crown: New appeal launched to catch killer who has evaded justice after stabbing Wisbech pensioner to death 10 years ago". Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Una Crown murder: Police thought death was 'accidental'". BBC News. 12 February 2015. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Una Crown: Mistakes leave Wisbech murder unsolved, says niece". BBC News. 13 January 2023. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Hunt continues for killer of 86-year-old stabbed to death at home 10 years ago". Eastern Daily Press. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  5. ^ "A brutal killing, calamitous police mistakes and a murder trail gone cold". Eastern Daily Press. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Una Crown, 86, murdered in 'brutal assault' in Wisbech". BBC News. 16 January 2013. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  7. ^ "Wisbech murder: Widow, 86, was stabbed in neck and set on fire". Wisbech Standard. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Una Crown murder: Crimewatch reconstruction appeal". BBC News. 29 April 2013. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Killer of Wisbech pensioner Una Crown still at large four years after she died in a frenzied knife attack". Cambs Times. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  10. ^ "Una Crown murder: Fresh appeal in Wisbech one year on". BBC News. 11 January 2014. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  11. ^ "Una Crown: Fresh leads in 2013 Wisbech widow murder". BBC News. 23 January 2023. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  12. ^ Jones, Amy (10 March 2023). "Everything we know about Eliza Bibby murder probe". CambridgeshireLive. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  13. ^ "Una Crown murder: Wisbech community asked for help". BBC News. 12 January 2015. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  14. ^ "Re-appeal for information ten years on from murder of Wisbech pensioner". Cambridgeshire Constabulary. 13 January 2023. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  15. ^ a b "Initial handling of Una Crown death 'unfortunate' and murder 'too readily dismissed' as coroner rules 86-year-old Wisbech widow was unlawfully killed". Eastern Daily Press. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  16. ^ a b c "Una Crown murder: Police made 'flawed decisions'". BBC News. 11 February 2015. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  17. ^ Brown, Raymond (22 July 2017). "Unsolved Cambridge murder could have links to witchcraft". CambridgeshireLive. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  18. ^ "Service for murdered pensioner". BBC News. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  19. ^ "Loved ones say goodbye to murdered Wisbech widow Una Crown". Eastern Daily Press. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  20. ^ "Man admits burgling Wisbech murder victim's home". BBC News. 9 April 2013. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  21. ^ "Una Crown burglar jailed for raiding murder victim's Wisbech home". BBC News. 26 June 2013. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  22. ^ "Una Crown murder: Crimewatch reconstruction knife appeal". BBC News. 30 April 2013. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  23. ^ "Una Crown murder: Two arrested men released without charge". BBC News. 16 October 2014. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  24. ^ Webb, Sam; Kendall, Ben (31 March 2015). "Killer who knifed and torched elderly woman at large after murder signs missed". mirror. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  25. ^ "Una Crown: Reward of 20k offered in 2013 unsolved murder". BBC News. 15 March 2023. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  26. ^ "Cambridgeshire: Information reward for unsolved murder of pensioner Una Crown". crimestoppers-uk.org. Crimestoppers. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  27. ^ "Unsolved Cambridgeshire murder to feature on BBC Crimewatch". The Hunts Post. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  28. ^ "Police condemned for failing to spot stabbed and 'burnt to a crisp' pensioner was murdered". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  29. ^ "Una Crown: Coroner criticises Cambridgeshire Police over widow death". BBC News. 31 March 2015. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  30. ^ "Two arrested over 'murder' of woman, 47, found dead in her own bungalow in Wisbech". Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  31. ^ "Man linked to town's two murders is named". Eastern Daily Press. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  32. ^ "Third person arrested in connection with Wisbech murder". Cambs Times. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  33. ^ "Wisbech: Murder charge over stab death of Eliza Bibby". BBC News. 10 March 2023. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  34. ^ "Two further arrests in connection to Eliza Bibby murder". Cambs Times. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  35. ^ "Wisbech murder victim Eliza Bibby inquest opens". Wisbech Standard. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  36. ^ "Man linked to town's two murders is named". Wisbech Standard. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  37. ^ Senior, Matthew (13 January 2023). "'Answer' to Cambs pensioner's unsolved murder 'lies in local community'". CambridgeshireLive. Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  38. ^ "Eliza Bibby: Man found guilty of Wisbech woman's murder". BBC News. 19 October 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  39. ^ "Eliza Bibby: Man sentenced to life following Wisbech murder". BBC News. 20 October 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  40. ^ Elworthy, John (20 October 2023). "Wisbech man jailed for life for murdering Eliza Bibby in her home - CambsNews.co.uk". Retrieved 8 November 2023.
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