An 86-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder this week in connection with the deaths of Harry and Megan Tooze at their farmhouse in Llanharry, Wales in 1993
A pensioner was arrested on suspicion of murder this week in connection with the deaths of a couple shot dead 32 years ago.
Harry and Megan Tooze, 64 and 67, were found dead with gunshot wounds at their Ty Ar y Waun farmhouse in Llanharry, Wales on July 26, 1993. South Wales Police launched a forensic review of the case in 2023 and made an arrest on Wednesday this week.
Today, police confirmed the 86-year-old man has now been released on police bail, South Wales Police’s senior investigating officer, Detective Superintendent Mark Lewis, said: “While this arrest is clearly a significant development in the investigation our enquiries are very much ongoing.
“This case has affected many people over the years and our aim is to find the answers to the unanswered questions which remain about their deaths over 30 years on. Even with this passage of time I appeal to anyone who has any information about the murders to come forward and speak to police.”
The bodies of Mr and Mrs Tooze were found in a shed on their farm, hidden under carpet and buried beneath hay. They had both been shot at close range from behind, Wales Online reports.
The initial investigation focused on their daughter Cheryl’s boyfriend Jonathan Jones, who was wrongly convicted of their murder in 1995, aged 35.
The prosecution case was based on his fingerprints on a teacup. But there were questions at the time over alternative explanations for how the fingerprints had come to be on the teacup. Cheryl stood by him and fought for his release.
Mr Jones, who went on to marry Cheryl and father a child with her, was released from prison a year later when his conviction was quashed.
Despite being one of Wales’ most notorious unsolved cases, the family criticised the police at different points in time for failing to put more resources into finding the killer.
Anyone with information about the deaths of Mr and Mrs Tooze should contact South Wales Police quoting occurrence number 2300016841. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously via https://crimestoppers-uk.org/ or on 0800 555 111.
