Detectives arrest 66-year-old man in one of Britain’s longest-unsolved double killings

Detectives have made an arrest in one of Britain’s longest unsolved double murder investigations.

Kent Police revealed they detained a 66-year-old man on suspicion of killing Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce in 1987.

The victims, both in their 20s, were sexually assaulted before being beaten and strangled just months apart in what became known as the Bedsit murders.

Wendy, 25, was found dead in June in her flat in Tunbridge Wells five months before Caroline, 20, was found dead in a remote field on Romney Marsh.

Both women were found naked and their keys were missing.

But despite a huge investigation at the time their killer has evaded justice for more than three decades.

The suspect was arrested today in Heathfield, East Sussex, and is due to be questioned about the two murders.

In a statement police said ‘Cold case detectives have arrested a man on suspicion of murdering two women from Tunbridge Wells more than 30 years ago.

‘The suspect, aged 66, from Heathfield, East Sussex, was detained on Thursday December 3, in connection with the deaths of Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce in 1987 and taken into custody.’

The young women were living a mile apart in Tunbridge Wells at the time when they were targeted and murdered and linked by police due to their similarities.

Wendy was found dead in her bedsit on June 23, 1987, after being sexually assaulted, beaten and strangled. She was left naked on her bed covered by a duvet.

Officers believed her killer broke in through a faulty back window as there were no signs of forced entry.

Wendy’s diary and keys with a distinctive keyring were missing and have never been found.

She had left work at about 5pm the previous day and went home after going to the bank.

After spending the evening at her boyfriend’s house, he dropped her home at 11pm and kissed her goodbye on the doorstep but never saw her again.

Officers believe Caroline was killed on November 24, 1987, after she was also sexually assaulted, beaten and strangled.

Her naked body was found three weeks later by a farm worker in the dyke of a remote field on the Romney Marsh – some 40 miles away from her home.

She was last seen at about midnight being taken home by a taxi after a night out with friends.

It is believed she was attacked outside her bedsit after neighbours reported hearing screams but she was never seen alive again.

Caroline’s keys with the Buster Browns restaurant fob where she worked were also never recovered.

In 2012 Kent Police revealed it had a full DNA profile of their prime suspect for both murders.