COLD CASE: Killers at large more than 40 years after woman, 85, beat and stabbed to death in own home

A PENSIONER suffered a brutally violent murder more than 40 years ago and the killer or killers have never been caught.

Esme Hoad, 85, was killed in 1982 after an intruder entered her home and repeatedly beat her around the head with a blunt instrument. She was also stabbed in the chest.

Crimestoppers are now offering a £20,000 reward for information which leads to Esme’s killer being found and convicted, as cold case detectives investigating the unsolved murder are renewing an appeal for information.

The attack took place while she was living alone at her house in Havelock Road, Tonbridge, Kent.

Esme’s body was found by police on 8 December, after concerned neighbours reported she had not been seen for several days.

Officers found no signs of forced entry but a substantial amount of blood was identified at the scene. A shoe mark was recovered with branding of the word ‘banana’ on the sole.

One of the lines of enquiry in the investigation surrounded an unknown couple, who were believed to have been regular visitors to the victim’s address and who travelled in a blue Mini Traveller.

They were thought to have had an interest in acquiring antiques and following the murder it was suspected several items may have been missing from Esme’s home.

Media appeals at the time included efforts to locate items including porcelain figures of a young girl, and a tiger ready to pounce. A brass lamp was also suspected to be missing.

The couple (e-fits of male above and woman below him) and their car were never identified and an extensive investigation found no evidence to confirm they had anything to do with Esme’s murder, or indeed that any antique items had been stolen.

While more than four decades have passed since Esme’s death, the case has never been closed and Kent Police remains committed to identifying her killer and bringing them to justice.

Detective Inspector Lee Neiles said: ‘Esme Hoad was a much-loved member of her community and the brutality of her murder shocked the whole town. More than 40 years have passed, but time does not diminish our determination to find the person responsible. We believe someone out there knows what happened, and even the smallest piece of information could be the key to unlocking this case.

'If you have any information about this case, including about the couple linked to a blue Mini Traveller or the antiques suspected to be missing, please come forward. Your information could finally help us deliver justice for Esme and closure for those who cared about her.’

If you have information which may assist the investigation, call 01303 289600 quoting AC/1400/82. You can also provide information through our online portal. Public Portal 

Crimestoppers is supporting this investigation by offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information the charity exclusively receives – either online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling 0800 555111 at any time – that leads to the arrest of those responsible for the murder of Esme Hoad. The reward is available for three months and is due to expire on 8 March 2026.