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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Corpse exhumed in search for DNA | Corpse exhumed in search for DNA |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A body of a woman found decapitated almost 34 years ago has been exhumed by police hoping to use DNA samples to reveal her identity and her killer. | |
| The headless corpse of the woman, found dressed in a pink nightdress, was discovered in Cockley Cley near Swaffham, Norfolk, in 1974. | The headless corpse of the woman, found dressed in a pink nightdress, was discovered in Cockley Cley near Swaffham, Norfolk, in 1974. |
| She was never formally identified but police hope scientific advances will find her family, friends or colleagues. Norfolk Police said the inquiry was among the biggest it had carried out. | |
| The woman, who was believed to be between 23 and 35 years old and about 5ft 2in (157cm) tall was found wrapped in a tarpaulin in a country lane on 27 August 1974. Her head was never found. | |
| She could have been local... the truth is we just don't know Det Insp Andy Guy | |
| The nightdress had been bought from a Marks and Spencer store and the woman was bound in a dustsheet marked NCR - the logo for National Cash Registers. | |
| Despite police launching a long investigation, which included taking 700 statements and questioning 15,000 people, they were never able to identify the woman or find out where she had come from. | Despite police launching a long investigation, which included taking 700 statements and questioning 15,000 people, they were never able to identify the woman or find out where she had come from. |
| Now the DNA evidence taken from the exhumed body could take police a step closer to identifying the woman. | Now the DNA evidence taken from the exhumed body could take police a step closer to identifying the woman. |
| After being exhumed her remains were taken to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital where a second post-mortem was conducted and the remains studied. | |
| The woman is believed to have been murdered in the first or second week of August 1974, police said. | |
| 'Catch the killer' | |
| Det Insp Andy Guy, who is conducting the cold case investigation, said: "It is hoped the DNA recovered may be able to link the woman to a living family member on the database and provide a breakthrough in the case." | |
| Police hope to hear from anyone who has not seen a relative, friend or colleague since 1974. | Police hope to hear from anyone who has not seen a relative, friend or colleague since 1974. |
| "The likelihood is it will be a member of the public ringing and saying 'that is my sister, neighbour or work colleague'," Det Insp Guy said. | |
| "It is possible that she was a holidaymaker, or that she was staying at one of the nearby military camps. | "It is possible that she was a holidaymaker, or that she was staying at one of the nearby military camps. |
| "She could have been local or she could have been brought in from away. The truth is we just don't know. | "She could have been local or she could have been brought in from away. The truth is we just don't know. |
| "Once we identify her, we know where to look to catch the killer." | "Once we identify her, we know where to look to catch the killer." |