CASE SUMMARY

In October 1996, firefighters in Leadgate extinguished a blaze at the home of 27-year-old Julie Smailes. Inside, she was found dead in bed – bound and stabbed over 40 times. The fire had been set to cover up her murder.

Two years later, just miles away, 18-year-old Rachel Tough was found bludgeoned to death with a hammer. The man who owned the house became the prime suspect in both cases – and rumours linked him to even more local killings.

After a week-long manhunt, he was found dead having hung himself.

DNA would later place Thompson at the scene of Julie’s murder, but police remain convinced a number of others were present and still remain at large.