S15E09 | Roy Tutill (Chessington, Surrey, 1968)

In April 1968, 14-year-old Roy Tutill vanished on his way home from school, a route he often travelled by hitch-hiking. Three days later, his lifeless body was discovered, sparking an investigation that would span decades.

Roy’s tragic murder haunted investigators and the community alike as the years ticked by without justice. Then, in 2001, a breakthrough came when advances in DNA technology linked his killer to the crime - 33 years after the fact.

The match was triggered by a chance arrest for drink-driving in 1999, unravelling a secret that had evaded detection for many years and finally bringing closure to one of Britain’s most heartbreaking cold cases.

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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:
Assersohn, R. (1968, October 13). Frightened wife gives car clue to boy’s murder. Sunday Express, 5.
Assersohn, R. (1969, November 16). Is a woman hiding the secret of boy’s murderer? Sunday Express, 15.
Big hunt for hitch-hike killer. (1968, April 27). Reading Evening Post, 1.
BOY KILLING: MAN GIVES STATEMENT. (1971, October 3). Sunday Express, 1.
Bresler, F. (1973, June 10). THE BOY WHO NEVER CAME HOME. Sunday Express, 8.
Bryant, T. (1968, April 28). “STRANGLER” CLUE FROM A GRANNIE. The People, 1.
Child killer “had abused for 40 years.” (2001, November 15). BBC News. Retrieved November 18, 2024, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1657817.stm
Clough, S. (2001, November 16). Child murder cases reopened as DNA test traps 1968 sex attacker. The Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1362533/Child-murder-cases-reopened-as-DNA-test-traps-1968-sex-attacker.html
Cowan, R. (2006, November 11). Police talk to jailed child killer over missing boys. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/nov/11/ukcrime.rosiecowan
Death riddle in the Jaguar belt. (1968, April 27). Liverpool Daily Post, 3.
Dorking businessman remembers the day before schoolboy’s murder. (2013, July 3). Surrey Live. Retrieved November 18, 2024, from https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/dorking-businessman-remembers-day-before-4858436
Downs killing: Man leaves. (1971, October 4). Daily Express, 7.
Ex-prisoner quizzed about murder of boy 26 years ago. (1991, December 14). Liverpool Echo, 2.
Green car sought in murder hunt. (1968, May 4). Grimsby Daily Telegraph, 1.
Hunter, G. (1968a, April 27). Grammar school boy of 14 murdered. Daily Express, 1.
Hunter, G. (1968b, April 29). “Murder drive” clue: Hitch-hike case police seek car spotted on day boy vanished. Daily Express, 11.
Hunter, G. (1968c, May 1). MURDER: DID YOU SEE A BOY IN A RED BLAZER HERE ON TUESDAY 23 APRIL. Daily Express, 11.
Killing of boy denied. (2001, March 25). Wolverhampton Express and Star, 4.
Ladbrook, C. (2001, November 21). LIFE FOR RASEN SEX MONSTER. Market Rasen Weekly Mail, 1–3.
Madden, S. (2024, April 22). Schoolboy murderer Brian Field dies in prison. BBC News. Retrieved November 18, 2024, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c51nxn5yq9go
Man jailed for 1968 schoolboy murder. (201 C.E., November 15). BBC News. Retrieved November 18, 2024, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1657754.stm
MAN JAILED FOR ASSAULTING BOY. (1972, November 17). The Scotsman, 8.
Mulholland, B. (1968, August 4). The village that looks with suspicion on every stranger. Sunday Express, 13.
Mulholland, B. (1982, December 19). The open file a police chief hands on to his successor. Sunday Express, 15.
Murder arrest. (2001, February 22). Wolverhampton Express and Star, 5.
Murder charge for labourer, 65. (2001, November 15). Shropshire Star, 4.
Murder squad look for car. (1968, April 29). Hull Daily Mail, 1.
Murdered boy’s funeral. (1968, June 1). Surrey Advertiser, 3.
NEW CLUE TO A BOY’S KILLER. (1974, February 3). Sunday Express, 5.
NEW HUNT FOR KILLER. (1991, December 10). Daily Mirror, 6.
New line of inquiry in hunt for boy’s killer. (1968, August 30). Surrey Advertiser, 22.
Oswestry child killer Brian Field found dead in prison. (2024, April 23). Oswestry & Border Counties Advertizer. https://www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk/news/24272078.oswestry-child-killer-brian-field-found-dead-prison/
Our history. (n.d.). The Children’s Family Trust. Retrieved November 18, 2024, from https://thecft.org.uk/vision-values/
Paedophile murderer escaped justice for 33 years before DNA trapped him. (2001, November 16). The Scotsman, 10.
Police will stage boy’s murder ride. (1968, April 28). Sunday Express, 1.
Rush-hour quiz in the hunt for a boy’s killer. (1968, May 1). Daily Mirror, 2.
Sandiford, J. (2021, September 29). Milk Carton Kids: what has been found three months in to Solihull search. Coventry Live. Retrieved November 18, 2024, from https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/local-news/milk-carton-kids-what-been-21713599
STRANGLED BOY: POLICE APPEAL. (1968, May 5). The People, 13.
Strangled Boy: Police Warn About Lifts. (1968, October 15). Leicester Daily Mercury, 19.
STRANGLED BOY RIDDLE: He is found dead in wood. (1968, April 27). Western Daily Press, 1.
Suspect freed. (1991, December 16). Halifax Evening Courier, 4.
The seeds of murder. . . (2001, November 28). Market Rasen Weekly Mail, 7.
Worker admits murder. (2001, November 15). Shropshire Star, 1.