Vicar and OAP murder 'links' probed

Feb 19 2012

Police investigating the murder of a clergyman in his vicarage say they are exploring "similarities" between his death and that of a 77-year-old woman in Worcestershire last month.

West Mercia Police officers investigating the murder of Betty Yates at her home in Bewdley on January 2 say they are working with officers investigating the stabbing of the Reverend John Suddards, 59, in Thornbury, South Gloucestershire, last Tuesday.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Jamieson, of West Mercia Police, said: "We have been particularly interested in the work by Avon and Somerset Police to investigate the murder of Reverend John Suddards. We have been working together with them to examine similarities between that incident and the murder of Betty Yates.

"We will continue our unrelenting efforts to bring the offender responsible for this dreadful crime to justice."

Stephen Farrow, 47, was arrested in Folkestone, Kent, in connection with Mr Suddards' death.

Mrs Yates, a retired teacher, was found stabbed to death at the foot of the stairs at her home on the banks of the River Severn on January 4.

A man was arrested on February 2 and questioned by police investigating her death but he was later released on bail.

West Mercia Police later issued descriptions of two men seen close to her home on the day they believe she died.

Mr Suddards was found stabbed to death at his home in Castle Street in Thornbury on Tuesday morning. The alarm was raised by workmen who arrived at the vicarage next to St Mary's Church and found it was locked.

The news of his death sent shockwaves through the clergy and the close-knit community, which lies about 11 miles north of Bristol.