Death of Jessie Earl

The death of Jessie Earl occurred in May 1980, after she disappeared in Eastbourne, on the south coast of England. She was 22 at the time. Her body was discovered in scrubland near the top of Beachy Head in 1989 and the coroner recorded an open verdict at the inquest. In 2000, Sussex Police opened a murder investigation and in 2020, her parents requested that the Attorney General opens a new inquest.

Early life

Jessie Earl was born to Valerie and John Earl. She became an art student, studying at Eastbourne College of Art and Design (now East Sussex College).[1]

Disappearance
Scrubland at the top of Beachy Head with Eastbourne beyond

Earl disappeared on 15 May 1980 in Eastbourne, Sussex. She was 22 at the time.[2] After three weeks, Sussex police flew a helicopter over the South Downs, using a thermal scanner in the hope of finding something.[3]

Earl's body was located in 1989, when a man stumbled across her remains in scrubland at the top of Beachy Head. A volunteer team of metal detectors led by an archaeologist searched the cliffs and found items such as jewellery and belt buckles.[1] Four months after the discovery of the body, a coroner recorded an open verdict at the inquest.[4]

In 2000, the police launched a new murder inquiry. The Detective Chief Inspector leading the investigation commented "We believe that Jessie was murdered."[1] By 2018, the police had no open lines of enquiry, but was reviewing the case every two years. Researcher Mark Williams-Thomas suggested that convicted serial killer Peter Tobin might be connected to the case, in response the police said they had made no links.[5]

Earl's parents asked the Attorney General to open a new inquest in June 2020. They stated that her body had been found naked and that they had "always known it was murder."[2]

gollark: Because communism has always worked, and it's not like there's been a general increase in standards of living or anything.
gollark: It does seem that way sometimes. With the internet, it's possible to complain about other people who happen to not think identically to you from the comfort of your home.
gollark: Probably.
gollark: I'm okay with not taxing churches or whatever as long as they do not start meddling in politics or operating for profit.
gollark: I suspect this may have happened for many of them.

References
  1. "Death in 1980 now murder inquiry". The Times. 9 June 1980. pp. 2–3. Gale IF0501333417.
  2. "Fresh inquest bid over art student's 1980s death". BBC News. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  3. "More police in hunt for girl aged 14". The Times. 9 June 1980. pp. 2–3. Gale CS36275913.
  4. "Parents' plea over daughter's 1980 death". BBC News. 25 September 2018. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  5. "Ex-detective links Eastbourne disappearances to serial killer". Eastbourne Herald. 11 April 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
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