Dursley News
Vicar murder suspect to be released or charged tomorrow morning
9:43am Wednesday 22nd February 2012
POLICE will have until tomorrow morning to either charge or release the man arrested on suspicion of the murder of the Rev John Suddards in Thornbury.
Stephen Farrow, 47, was caught by Kent police at 4.20am in Folkestone on Sunday after a nationwide manhunt.
He had been named as a suspect in the vicar’s murder investigation on the previous day.
Mr Farrow was also arrested by West Mercia Police over the murder of 77-year-old was Betty Yates who was stabbed to death at her home in Bewdley, Worcestershire, on Wednesday, January 4.
Mr Suddards, 59, was found dead in his vicarage in Castle Street last Tuesday morning. He had been stabbed.
Avon and Somerset DCI Simon Crisp said: "We are determined to bring whoever is responsible for the murder of the Reverend to justice and are working very closely with our colleagues in other areas of the country.
"We continue to encourage anyone who has not yet come forward to do so if they feel there is anything at all they think would help the investigation."
Detective Chief Inspector Neil Jamieson of West Mercia Police added: "We have been particularly interested in the work by Avon and Somerset Police to investigate the murder of Reverend John Suddards. We have been working together with them to examine similarities between that incident and the murder of Betty Yates.
"We will continue our unrelenting efforts to bring the offender responsible for this dreadful crime to justice."
If you have any information on either of these murders call the police on 101 and ask for Avon and Somerset or West Mercia Police. Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.