Doris Kellett was ninety-two years old, but lived independently in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, England, and still socialized extensively. Her home was almost directly across the street from a police station, though sadly this fact would not prevent the horrific fate that befell her.
On January 17th, 1990, Doris had had a busy day, spending time at the Central Methodist Church in Greenside, where she attended a luncheon, an exercise class, and a lecture about current events.
She headed home in the late afternoon. At approximately six p.m., witnesses saw her speaking to two men who were standing on her doorstep; they were reportedly dressed “casually,” and one of them was carrying a clipboard. This was the last time Doris was seen alive.
Forty-five minutes later, Doris’s home care nurse arrived at the residence as usual and found to her horror that the elderly woman had been beaten to death with a blunt object. The victim was lying in a pool of blood, her skull fractured, and her body had been covered with a blood-spattered cloth.
During the investigation, it was discovered that a few valuables were missing from Doris’s home, including some cash, a ring, and an amber paperweight. Police therefore surmised that the crime had been the result of a robbery gone wrong, perhaps perpetrated by the two men seen standing at her door, who could have been posing as salesmen or officials to weasel their way inside. Neither man ever came forward, making detectives suspect that they were indeed the individuals responsible.
The vicious murder of Doris Kellett remains unsolved more than thirty years later.
Crime Immemorial 