Crime Immemorial

Vikki Preston and Rhona Schofield had been best friends since attending school together. On the evening of May 9th, they were staying at a friend’s terraced house on King Street after spending time socializing with others.

The evening was far from peaceful. Witnesses later described arguments involving several people at the property before most of those present eventually left. Vikki and Rhona remained behind and went upstairs to sleep in a first-floor bedroom.

Sometime between approximately three forty a.m. and four ten a.m., someone entered the house. Rather than attacking the victims directly, the intruder ignited fires in foam-filled furniture located in both downstairs reception rooms. The highly combustible foam caused the fire to grow with extraordinary speed. Investigators estimated temperatures inside the property reached nearly 1,832°F (1,000°C) within twenty minutes. As the blaze intensified, thick, poisonous smoke rapidly filled the home before flames spread upstairs.

Fire crews responded quickly after the alarm was raised, but by the time they entered the building, conditions inside had become unsurvivable.

Both young women died from inhalation of toxic smoke and gases before rescuers could reach them. The fire itself was not the immediate cause of death; instead, the lethal fumes overwhelmed them while they slept.

One particularly heartbreaking discovery illustrated the victims’ desperate final moments. Investigators found evidence that Rhona had apparently attempted to close the bedroom door in an effort to keep smoke out before trying to crawl to safety. The impression she left on the floor remained visible after the fire had been extinguished.

Fire investigators quickly concluded that the blaze was no accident. The two separate points of origin downstairs demonstrated that the fire had been started deliberately. The perpetrator had specifically targeted upholstered furniture whose polyurethane foam acted as an accelerant, creating an explosive fire that consumed much of the property.

Ironically, the ferocity of the blaze also destroyed much of the forensic evidence that might have identified the killer. Fingerprints, DNA, and other physical traces were largely obliterated by the extreme heat.

Detectives learned that serious arguments had erupted at the house during the previous day involving several individuals. During later proceedings, evidence emerged that one woman allegedly threatened to kill the two teenagers following the confrontation, although she denied any involvement in the fire.

Investigators ultimately identified two principal suspects during the inquiry, but despite years of investigation they were unable to gather sufficient admissible evidence to bring murder charges.

One of the cruelest ironies surrounding the tragedy involved Rhona Schofield’s lifelong ambition. She had served as a fire cadet and hoped to join the fire service professionally. Firefighters from the station where she had trained formed a guard of honor during her funeral procession.

Years passed without arrests or convictions, leaving relatives trapped in an endless search for answers. Rhona’s father, Peter Schofield, reportedly struggled profoundly with the loss of his daughter and died before anyone was brought to justice. Vikki’s mother repeatedly appealed for anyone with information to come forward, expressing her grief over the life her daughter never had the opportunity to live.

Over the years investigators have released previously unseen photographs from inside the burned house, re-examined forensic evidence using newer techniques, and appeared on television appeals, including crime reconstruction programs. They also continue to offer a £50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

Senior detectives have consistently stated their belief that someone in the community knows exactly who carried out the attack and has remained silent.

The murders of Vikki Preston and Rhona Schofield remain among the most disturbing unsolved crimes in Greater Manchester’s history. Unlike many arson deaths, investigators have never doubted that this fire was a calculated act intended to kill.

The investigation remains open.