Quickly exit this site by pressing the Escape key Leave this site
We use some essential cookies to make our website work. We’d like to set additional cookies so we can remember your preferences and understand how you use our site.
You can manage your preferences and cookie settings at any time by clicking on “Customise Cookies” below. For more information on how we use cookies, please see our Cookies notice.
Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.
Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.
Sorry, there was a technical problem. Please try again.
This site is a beta, which means it's a work in progress and we'll be adding more to it over the next few weeks. Your feedback helps us make things better, so please let us know what you think.
Cold-case detectives responsible for jailing the husband who plotted the murder of Carol Morgan in 1981 have relaunched their appeal to find her killer.
The team behind the investigation into Carol’s murder have today (Monday) appeared on BBC’s Crimewatch Live to re-appeal for anyone who has information about the killing, which shocked the community of Linslade and Leighton Buzzard back on 13 August 1981.
Mother-of-two Carol, 36, was bludgeoned repeatedly with a heavy, sharp object and left in the storeroom of the shop she ran with her husband Allen Morgan in Finch Crescent.
The case was never brought to trial until the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit reviewed and revived the investigation in 2019, and on 19 June this year, Morgan, 74, of Stanstead Crescent, Brighton was convicted of conspiracy to murder his then-wife.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment but, more than four decades after the barbaric attack, Carol’s murder remains undetected as the physical killer is still at large.
Detective Inspector Richard Stott, now leading the case, said: “It was momentous for Allen Morgan to be found guilty of conspiring to have his wife killed in the most brutal fashion, as before that time no justice had ever been served for Carol or her family. That said, we in the Major Crime team remain resolute that her killing is still unsolved, as we have never identified the person responsible for the physical act of murder.
“Although we refer to a ‘contract killer’ employed by Allen, Carol’s death was far from professional – it was a gruesome and frenzied attack. This killer, if still alive, could be living anywhere, and may have talked about details in their life which potentially are suspicious.
“Did you know Carol around the time of her death, or have any involvement with Allen either back then or since? We would also like to hear from people who frequented the numerous pubs around Linslade and Leighton Buzzard in the early 80s, including The Dolphin, The Ship, The Waggon and Horses and The Clay Pipe.
“As part of the original 1981 investigation, an e-fit was issued of a man witnessed leaving Morgan’s Store in Finch Crescent at around the time of the attack – which was staged to look like a robbery. While we remain interested in this line of enquiry, we are looking more broadly, and are keen to speak to anyone who we may not already have engaged with as part of our meticulous cold-case investigation.
“No murder case is ever left undetected, and we will pursue any leads – no matter how seemingly small – to ensure that Carol’s killer is apprehended.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 101 quoting Operation Markdown, or can submit information directly to our Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP)