When multiple women and children were raped in and around London's railway network during the early 1980s, detectives initially believed one man was responsible.
They didn't realise that two men had committed the horrific acts and that their sadistic tendencies would soon turn to murder.
In this two-part series, I discuss what became the nation’s biggest manhunt since the Peter Sutcliffe inquiry.
This first part focuses on the women assaulted, raped and murdered by the story’s perpetrators, with part 2 focusing on the perpetrators themselves.
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Intro music:
David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'
davidjohnbrady.com
Disclaimer:
The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. I list the sources used in each episode on my website. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.
References:
Banner, D. (2017, July 18). “We called it hunting”: How serial killer rapists trawled streets for young women while listening to Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Shropshire Star. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/featured-articles/2017/07/18/we-called-it-hunting-how-serial-killer-rapists-trawled-streets-for-young-women-while-listening-to-michael-jacksons-thriller-sponsored-content/
Bennetto, J. (2000, November 7). Killer says friend “felt godlike after murder.” The Independent. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/killer-says-friend-felt-godlike-after-murder-622277.html
De Graaf, M. (2014, July 7). Fury as notorious sex killer is given £500 compensation after prison bosses damaged a parcel which was sent by him. Mail Online. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2683028/Fury-notorious-sex-killer-given-500-compensation-prison-bosses-damaged-parcel-sent-him.html
Evans, H. (2022, November 20). The terrifying Railway Killers who stalked and raped women as they walked home from train stations. My London. Retrieved March 17, 2024, from https://www.mylondon.news/news/north-london-news/terrifying-railway-killers-who-stalked-25512936
Farquhar, S. (2016). A Dangerous Place: The Story of the Railway Murders. The History Press.
futureisgosub. (2020, November 12). Crimewatch Redux - The Railway Killers (1986) [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sT3Ti62cfU
John Duffy and David Mulcahy: The railway rapists. (n.d.). Crime + Investigation UK. https://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/article/john-duffy-and-david-mulcahy-the-railway-rapists
Man in court accused of killing Dutch schoolgirl. (2000, November 1). News Shopper. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/6446368.man-in-court-accused-of-killing-dutch-schoolgirl/
Morris, S. (2001, February 3). Love of “hunting” united rapists. The Guardian. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/feb/03/stevenmorris
Mountney, D. (2022, June 1). The Railway Killers and the shocking Brookmans Park murder of Anne Lock. Welwyn Hatfield Times. Retrieved March 17, 2024, from https://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/22340761.railway-killers-shocking-brookmans-park-murder-anne-lock/
Mullin, G. (2015, March 31). Railway Rapist David Mulcahy who is serving life demands police help his appeal. Mail Online. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3020088/Railway-Rapist-serving-life-four-rapes-three-murders-demands-police-dig-6-000-documents-help-appeal.html
Pritchard, T. (2001, February 4). Inside the hunt for a serial rapist. The Guardian. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/feb/04/theobserver.uknews1
Rapist’s ex-wife tells of torment. (2000, December 20). Times Series. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://www.times-series.co.uk/news/36015.rapists-ex-wife-tells-of-torment/
Roper, M. (2021, August 17). Railway killer’s surprise confession led to accomplice in rapes & murders spree. The Mirror. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/railway-killers-shock-confession-led-24780501
Roper, M., & Wiggins, D. (2021, August 18). Channel 5 The Railway Killers: John Duffy’s confession after 9 year silence that led to capture of accomplice. My London. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://www.mylondon.news/news/north-london-news/channel-5-railway-killers-john-21336875
Tabahriti, S. (2021, August 17). The Railway Killers: The harrowing story of David Mulcahy and John Duffy explored in Channel 5 series. inews.co.uk. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/the-railway-killers-channel-5-series-story-david-mulcahy-john-duffy-victims-now-1153497
Thames News. (2015, October 9). Maartje Tamboezer | Murder | Crime | TN-86-021-036 [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nX90abDh5w
Toureille, C. (2021, August 17). Detective who investigated the killing of third Railway Murder victim Anne Lock admits he was “devastated” when prime suspect John Duffy was acquitted due to lack of evidence - 11 years before he eventually confessed. Mail Online. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-9901303/Best-friend-Railway-Killers-victim-remembers-judges-decision-case-trial.html
Wilson, C., & Wilson, D. (2015). Written in blood. Diversion Books.