(2024) The Murder of Judith Roberts, by Chris Clark

The Murder of Judith Roberts, by Chris Clark and Tanita Matthews, is a true crime book published in 2024.

The book investigates the unsolved 1972 murder of 14-year-old Judith Roberts in Wigginton, near Tamworth, Staffordshire, England.

The book focuses on the wrongful conviction of Andrew Evans, a 17-year-old soldier, who confessed to the murder but later retracted his statement [8-10]. Evans spent 25 years in prison before his conviction was quashed on appeal in 1997 due to a lack of evidence and the unreliable nature of his confession obtained under questionable police practices.

The authors put forward the theory that Peter Sutcliffe, the notorious "Yorkshire Ripper," was responsible for Judith's murder. They highlight similarities between Judith's case and Sutcliffe's modus operandi, including the use of a hammer as a weapon and the state of Judith's partially hidden body [16-19]. The book explores Sutcliffe's criminal history, his known attacks, and the potential for him to have been in the area at the time of Judith's murder.

While acknowledging dissenting opinions, the authors believe that the theory of Sutcliffe's involvement warrants further investigation [17, 26]. They also emphasize the lasting impact of Judith's murder on the community and the ongoing pursuit of truth and justice in the case