John Straffen - Escape From Broadmoor and The Murder of Linda Bowyer

Escape From Broadmoor and The Murder of Linda Bowyer

On 29 April 1952 Straffen went, with an attendant and another patient, to clean some outbuildings which were close by the 10-foot-tall external wall. In a small yard immediately adjacent to the wall was a low shed with a sloping roof which was 8½ feet high at its highest point. In the yard were empty disinfectant tins. Straffen asked his supervisor if he could shake his duster and on receiving permission went into the yard. Once the other patient had gone back in, Straffen climbed onto the roof and jumped over the wall. He had already made sure he had his civilian clothes under his work clothes.

Only 20 minutes after escaping, Straffen came up a private drive in Crowthorne and approached Mrs. Doris Spencer who was in her garden. He asked her for a drink of water, which she gave him, and then discussed the proximity of Broadmoor and the likelihood of escapes. After ten minutes he left. An hour and a half later he reached Farley Hill and at about five o'clock Straffen came to the point where five-year-old Linda Bowyer was riding her bicycle around the village. Within half an hour Linda Bowyer was dead.

Straffen then begged a cup of tea from another householder, Mrs. Kenyon, who agreed to drive him to the bus stop. As they were drawing up to the stop, Straffen saw some men in uniform and asked whether they were police; on learning that they were, he swiftly got out of the car and ran away. Kenyon told the men (who were actually Broadmoor nurses) of the suspicious behaviour of her passenger and Straffen was recaptured a few minutes later. Driven in the car on the journey back to Broadmoor, Straffen said "I have finished with crime". The body of Linda Bowyer was found at dawn the next day.

The police went to Broadmoor to interview Straffen at 8 a.m., arriving before news of the disappearance and murder of a local child had reached the hospital. The police went to Straffen's room and woke him up, then asking him what he had done when he was free and whether he had got into mischief. Straffen replied "I did not kill her". The police inspector told Straffen that no-one had suggested anyone had been killed, and Straffen said "I know what you policemen are, I know I killed two little children but I did not kill the little girl." The inspector then confirmed that a girl had been killed near where Straffen was recaptured. Straffen said "I did not kill the little girl on the bicycle."

Straffen then made a long statement, which the police checked. On 1 May Straffen was charged with the murder of Linda Bowyer, and he appeared before Reading County Magistrates the following day. He was remanded in custody, and despite the fact of the order committing him to Broadmoor, the Magistrates decided that since they had failed to hold him he should be remanded to Brixton Prison. The Ministry of Health meanwhile called for a full inquiry into how Straffen escaped; a group of local residents held a meeting on the same evening as Straffen's court appearance to call for some system of public warning of an escape. The Ministry of Health inquiry was extended to a full independent inquiry. A system of warning sirens was set up later in 1952 as a result of the inquiry recommendations.