The Unsolved Murder of Jessie Earl
Jessie Earl was a 22-year-old art student studying at Eastbourne College of Art and Design. Described as independent and strong, Jessie enjoyed reading and walking along the coast.
On 15th May 1980, Jessie rang her mother from a payphone on the seafront, she said she would visit on Friday. On Friday, when Jessie did not return home, her mother decided to go to Jessie’s apartment and see why she had changed her plans.
On 18th May, Jessie’s mother arrived at her daughter’s apartment and realised something was wrong- the place looked abandoned yet Jessie’s purse remained on the bed, the diary Jessie wrote in daily gave no indication she had gone anywhere. The police were called but no trace of Jessie or clues as to what happened to her could be found.
In 1989, a skeleton was discovered in undergrowth on Beachy Head, this was identified as Jessie’s body. The body was nude with a bra tied around the wrists, her jewellery was missing. A coroner claimed Jessie had committed suicide despite her parents arguing that she had no reason to and was not unhappy.
In 2000, Jessie’s death was classified as murder, however due to the original investigation being closed as a suicide, evidence had been destroyed including the bra which had been found, this prevented modern forensic techniques being used and was described as a ‘significant mistake.’
Serial killer and sex offender, Peter Tobin, was known to have been in the area of the murder at the time and Jessie had fit his victim profile however due to a lack of evidence from the crime scene no link could be found. Jessie’s murder was also linked to the unsolved murder of Louise Kays, who disappeared from Eastbourne in 1968, Louise also frequented the Beachy Head area. It was also speculated Louise was a victim of Peter Tobin, though no evidence could be found. Louise’s murder is unsolved.
Jessie’s murder remains unsolved.