As the 23rd of July 2023 marks four decades since the last sighting of a 35-year-old woman from north Essex, Diane Jones, Essex Police are renewing their appeal for information in the long-standing cold case. Diane’s disappearance has remained shrouded in mystery, and despite years of investigative efforts, her murder remains unsolved.
On the evening of 23rd July 1983, Diane and her husband, a local GP from Coggeshall, enjoyed a drink together at the Woolpack Inn in Church Street, a village pub. Witnesses reported seeing the couple before they departed at around 23.00 to return to their farmhouse in Colchester Road, situated near the junction with the A120.
According to Diane’s husband, he last saw her at the front gate of their home after she exited the car. He then parked and tended to their dog. Tragically, that was the last sighting of Diane alive. Her husband reported her missing nine days later, leading to the commencement of a missing person investigation by Essex Police.
Months passed, and the situation took a grim turn when Diane’s lifeless body was found on 22nd October 1983, approximately 30 miles away in a copse near the A1093 in Martlesham, Suffolk. A post-mortem examination revealed she had suffered a fractured skull, prompting a joint murder inquiry by Suffolk Constabulary and Essex Police.
Extensive enquiries were conducted, and a suspect was arrested during the investigation, but ultimately released without charge. Over the past three years, the Joint Norfolk and Suffolk Unsolved Case Team have reviewed the crime, exploring forensic evidence, pursuing new leads, and interviewing fresh witnesses. The investigation even extended to France, in connection with a potential murder weapon.
Unfortunately, the original suspect in the case has since passed away, significantly limiting the scope of the ongoing investigation. Despite this setback, the dedicated team remains committed to pursuing all leads and will continue to exhaust enquiries for as long as possible.
Andy Guy, the Major Crime Review and Unsolved Case Team Manager expressed his team’s commitment to solving Diane’s murder, saying, “We had been making some positive progress in the case of Diane’s murder and were unearthing new information, even after all this time.”
“Unfortunately, we were unable to reach the evidential threshold required for a prosecution for murder on two separate occasions. This case will remain with our team,” Guy added.
Essex Police are appealing to the public for any information that may help shed light on this tragic and perplexing case. Anyone with potential leads or relevant details should contact the Joint Norfolk and Suffolk Major Crime Review and Unsolved Case Team via phone at 01953 423819 or email at [email protected].
