Over the years of true crime research I’ve done, I’ve often come across cases that were just too outlandish to be true. And then I’m reminded of the phrase ‘life is stranger than fiction’. And in the case of the Erdington Murders, stranger than fiction could not ring more true.
Erdington is a suburb of modern day Birmingham, England. The community was established in the 9th century, and has withstood the test of time – and of the eerie.
George Jackson was on his way to work on the morning of May 27th, 1817. At around 6:30 AM, along his route, he came across a bundle of bloody clothing, a hat, and a pair of shoes near a pit that had been filled with water. As George was afraid he’d be late for work, he soon ran to a nearby home, and alerted them to what he found, hoping they would alert the authorities themselves.
The authorities made their way to the pool, noticing footprints along the way. They placed planks of wood over the prints, hoping to preserve them as best as they could. Upon closer inspection, the footprints appeared to belong to a man and a woman walking leisurely. Then, the footsteps of the woman came to an abrupt stop, while the man’s appeared to be running away.
The pond was also investigated, where the authorities discovered the body of 20-year-old Mary Ashford. Mary appeared to have bruising on her arms, and it was highly suspected that she may have been sexually assaulted prior to be murdered.
In speaking with Mary’s friends, they were able to piece together her movements in the hours prior to her murder.
Earlier the previous day, May 26th, Mary had left her uncle’s home, where she resided and worked as a housemaid, and dropped off a bundle of clothing with her friend Hannah Cox, who was residing in the home of Mrs. Butler.
The two young women had planned on attending a Whit Monday dance that evening, and Mary, being efficient as she was, decided to prepare for the dance with her friend.
Around 6:00 PM, she returned to Hannah’s room, and the two women got dressed in their party outfits. Then, they made their way to Tyburn House, where the dance was being held.
The two women enjoyed their time, and danced with many suitors. Hannah enjoyed more than one dance with Mr. Benjamin Carter, while Mary was quite taken with Mr. Abraham Thornton.
At around midnight, the four left the dance. Benjamin walked Hannah home and left upon seeing her safe, while Abraham walked with Mary towards her grandfather’s home, as Mary had planned on spending the night there, rather than at her uncle’s.
At around 4:00 AM, Mary returned to Hannah’s room and changed from her party clothes into her work clothes. Hannah stated that Mary appeared to be in a good mood, and told Hannah that she’d enjoyed spending time with Abraham before leaving Hanna’s room, and taking to the road again.
Multiple witnesses were able to tell investigators that they saw Mary walking down the road toward her grandfather’s home. They also mentioned that Mary appeared to be in good spirits, and that she greeted them all calmly and politely as she went on her way.
With Abraham Thornton being the last man to have seen her alive, authorities believed him responsible for Mary’s murder. He was arrested around 8:00 AM. As he was arrested, he told police officers: “I cannot believe she is murdered; why, I was with her until four o’clock this morning.” This statement seemed to solidify his guild in their minds.
Abraham was interrogated by the authorities, where he informed them that he had spent some time with Mary at the dance, and then had walked with her after parting from Benjamin and Hannah. He confessed to having sex with her, and then laying in the fields with her, stargazing. He then said he walked her back to Hannah’s room at around 3:00 AM, and he waited for her outside. After some time, she still hadn’t come down, so he left.
Police didn’t believe his story, and he was formally charged for the murder of Mary Ashford. His trial began on August 8th, 1817.
While most of the community was convinced of Abraham’s guilt, three witnesses were able to corroborate his alibi, stating that they’d seen him walking down the road, alone, during the time Mary had been at Hannah’s.
Even though the authorities had gone so far as to attempt to preserve the footprints, which seemed to match Abraham’s shoes, the witnesses were enough to sway the jury. Abraham Thornton was found not guilty of the murder of Mary Ashford.
Mary’s brother, William Ashford, was enraged. He refused to believe this turn of events, and he appealed the courts for a second trial.
The judge granted a second trial by battle, an never-before used, and outdated, practice. Abraham, sick of the charade, threw his gloves down and agreed to the trial by battle. William seemed to see the absurdity of the situation, and backed down.
Abraham Thornton was never able to regain his reputation, as the community continued to believe he was guilty of Mary’s murder. Not long after his acquittal, Abraham fled the community, and made his way to the United States.
The murder of Mary Ashford remains officially unsolved.
And while Mary’s murder case would be enough of an intrigue on its own, it’s the events that occurred over 150 years later that really make the case of the Erdington Murders so fascinating.
On May 27th, 1974, 20-year-old Barbara Forrest was found lying dead in a ditch near Chest Road, in the small community of Erdington, Birmingham, England.
Barbara was a smart young woman, and was described as being very kind, and very devoted to her career. She worked at the Pype Hayes Children’s Home as a nurse, and was devoted to the wellbeing of the children under her care.
As the investigation into her murder began, authorities found that Barbara had spent the previous evening with her boyfriend, Simon Belcher. They had attended a Whit Monday service at their church, and then were seen by many witnesses at various pubs, drinking, dancing, and having a good time together.
Simon told the authorities that they left the last pub at around 1:00 AM, and that he walked her to the bus, waiting for her to get on, and be on her way home.
Over 100 detectives were called into the manhunt for Barbara’s killer. Soon, they set their sights on a suspect – Michael Ian Thornton.
Micheal Thornton – no discernible relation to Abraham Thornton – was a colleague of Barbara’s at the Children’s Home. He also lived on Chester Road, near where her body was found.
When he was taken in for questioning, police allegedly found bloodstains on a pair of his pants. While his mother had provided an alibi for her son, police discovered that this alibi was false.
Micheal Ian Thornton was arrested, and charged with the murder of Barbara Forrest.
Michael was tried, and found not guilty due to lack of evidence.
Barbara’s sister, Erika, refused to accept this result. For years, she protested loudly about her sister’s case, demanding the investigation be re-opened. In 2012, she demanded a DNA test of the evidence, to prove once and for all wither Michael Thornton was Barbara’s murderer.
The police have been very closed-lipped as to whether or not reopening the case is feasible.
The murder of Barbara Forrest remains unsolved.
Two incidents – two murders – 157 years apart, bearing some very eerie similarities. Here are a few that stand out to me, personally:
- Both women were 20 years old.
- Both were found murdered near their homes, near the same roads, in the same small community.
- Both had told friends of having a strange feeling of dread leading up to their murders.
- Both suspects bore the surname Thornton.
When I came across this case, I truly found it unbelievable. Had this been a work of fiction, I’d be waiting for the paranormal explanation.
But this isn’t fiction, and there is not such thing as the paranormal. Two murders remain unsolved. While it may be too late for Mary, there may be hope yet for Barbara. If the police are willing to cooperate with her family.
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Sources:
The Eerie Coincidences of the Erdington Murders – Stephanie Almazan – Huffington Post
The Erdington Murders: Two Eerily Similar Slayings—157 Years Apart – The Lineup
The Erdington Murders: Two eerily similar slayings – 157 years apart! – Seig Lu – MRU
Mary Ashford and Barbara Forrest Two Frightening Similar Murders – 157 Years Apart – Mr. James England – Paranorms
Morbid podcast – Episode 254: The Erdington Murders