Isabella Mueller (crime writer)
This picturesque suburb of Birmingham in England can look back on a long and eventful history dating back to the 9th century. Yet this thriving suburb also has a dark chapter that continues to haunt its residents to this day – the unsolved murders of two young women whose fates bear a mysterious, almost terrifying resemblance. The timing of their gruesome deaths could not be more peculiar, as no less than 157 years lie between them, yet the parallels are almost impossible to ignore. The murders of Mary Ashford in 1817 and Barbara Forrest in 1974 have not only captivated the local population but also aroused the interest of crime historians and people from all over the world. Both women were just 20 years old at the time of their deaths; both were sexually assaulted and killed in the same park on the same day – Whit Monday – following an evening of dancing. Furthermore, both women shared the same birthday, and their murderers shared the same surname; although they were charged, both were acquitted. It is a story that takes your breath away. On the evening of 26 May 1817, Mary Ashford had attended a Whitsun ball at Tyburn House in Erdington with her friend Hannah Cox, where she met 25-year-old farmer Abraham Thornton, with whom she danced and spoke. But what began as a cheerful evening ended in tragedy. The following morning, Mary’s body was discovered in a pond in Pype Hayes Park by factory worker George Jackson. Mary had been sexually assaulted and then thrown into the pond, where she drowned. The shockwaves throughout the community were immense. The bloodstains and footprints found at the scene led to Thornton, who quickly became the prime suspect. Thornton admitted to having had sex with Mary. However, he insisted that he had not killed her. Thornton had even taken Mary back to her friend’s house. He had three witnesses who provided him with an alibi for the time afterwards. Despite the circumstantial evidence, he was acquitted by the Warwick Assize Court in August 1817 in a trial lasting just eight minutes, and the prosecution was unable to secure a conviction against him. The family attempted to reopen the case by invoking an old law on double jeopardy. Thornton was re-arrested and taken to the Old Bailey in London, where he was once again acquitted. Afterwards, Thornton turned his back on England and emigrated to America, where he settled in New York, married and began a new life. Almost exactly 157 years later, on 27 May 1974, another horrific crime took place. The victim was 20-year-old Barbara Forrest, who had come to Birmingham from Corby to work as a nanny at Pype Hayes Hall. Like Mary, Barbara had also attended a dance. She, too, subsequently fell victim to a brutal murder, and the main suspect was a certain Michael Ian Thornton – no relation to the first suspect, but the similarity in names sends a further shiver down the spine. Barbara had last been seen with her boyfriend Simon Belcher, who had dropped her off at the Colmore Circus bus stop at around 1 am. On 4 June 1974, Barbara was found dead in a embankment in Pype Hayes Park, just 300 metres from the spot where Mary had been killed. Her body also showed signs of violence and sexual assault. The main suspect was Michael Ian Thornton, a colleague of Barbara’s. He was arrested swiftly after bloodstains were discovered on his clothing and his mother had given him a false alibi. Yet in this case too, the evidence remained inconclusive, and Thornton was acquitted due to a lack of sufficient evidence. There are numerous chilling parallels between the two cases. Both women were young, attractive women who had expressed unease prior to their murders. Mary had shared her concerns with Hannah’s mother, whilst Barbara had told her colleague about an ‘unlucky month’. The fact that these murders took place in the same area and shared so many identical elements fuels speculation about supernatural links between the crimes. Whilst some believe these are merely coincidences, others are convinced that something dark was at work here. People in Erdington and around the world remain fascinated by these unsolved cases. Historians and crime experts have attempted to shed light on the matter, yet the shadows of the past refuse to lift. The desire for justice for Mary Ashford and Barbara Forrest remains in the hearts of those who wish to learn more about these tragic stories. The debate surrounding the so-called Erdington murders has brought the community together as they grapple with the eerie question: is it possible that the darkness that once fell upon Erdington still lingers there? Or are these merely the unfortunate coincidences of two separate, tragic incidents? The answers may lie hidden in the dark depths of human nature. In summary, the Erdington murders are not only a historical mystery but also a poignant example of how the shadows of the past can live on in people’s memories. Perhaps one day light will be shed on this darkness, and the truth will come to light. Until then, the story remains incomplete and the questions unanswered. Ultimately, one can only hope that the souls of the two young women have found peace.
