It is the unsolved murder that has haunted one of Greater Manchester’s top detectives for decades. Dorothy Leyden was just 17 years old when she was brutally raped and killed on her way home from a concert.
She was battered to death with a brick. Her broken body was found on wasteland behind the Spread Eagle pub on Rochdale Road in Collyhurst.
More than 50 years on, her killer has still never been caught. That is despite Greater Manchester Police’s Cold Case Unit having revisited the case several times, and detectives having a full DNA profile of the killer.
Just hours before she was found on April 25, 1971, Dorothy had been in the front row of a concert by Motown legend, Jimmy Ruffin, at the Golden Garter nightclub in Wythenshawe.
The American soul singer, who had a string of hits, including ‘What Becomes of The Broken Hearted’, had wiped his brow with a towel during the show and threw it into the audience – where it was caught by an ecstatic Dorothy.
Following the concert, Dorothy travelled home with friends. They caught a taxi on Princess Parkway but Dorothy got out at Piccadilly Gardens bus station at 2.30am to walk home – as it was a bit cheaper. Police believe it was on this part of the journey she was murdered.
The Golden Garter, where Dorothy spent the last night of her life
(Image: Manchester Council)
She was last seen walking along Rochdale Road in the rain as she made her way home. The towel she caught from Jimmy Ruffin was still in her bag when police found her body.
A major police investigation was launched, but the killer was never found. For many years, people believed the ‘Beast of Manchester’, Trevor Hardy, was responsible for her death – a theory that has since been dismissed.
In 1977, Hardy was sentenced to life behind bars for the murders of three teenagers – Sharon Mosoph, Wanda Skala and Lesley Stewart. All the killings occurred in a small area to the north east of Manchester – not far from where Dorothy’s body was found.
Police questioned Hardy about Dorothy’s murder after an anonymous phone caller said he had suspicious scratches on his face. But his mother gave him an alibi.
Four days before Dorothy’s murder, Hardy had been released from prison where he was serving a sentence for assault.
Trevor Hardy, the Beast Of Manchester, was questioned about Dorothy’s murder
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
In 2008, Dorothy’s case was reopened after her family wrote to Greater Manchester Police, asking them to re-examine old evidence.
Solving Dorothy’s murder has become a personal crusade for Martin Bottomley, the head of GMP’s Cold Case Unit. It is a crime that has been part of his life for more than 40 years.
“My first posting was to Collyhurst in 1978 and Dorothy was murdered on the site of what became the new Collyhurst Police Station”, he told the Manchester Evening News back in 2021.
“Believe it or not, when some members of staff used to work at Collyhurst late into the night, particularly when they were on their own, and this sounds weird, people have told me that they have heard what they have took to be a ghost crying out. Personally I am very sceptical of such claims.
“The station has since been demolished. When Dorothy was murdered the site was The Spread Eagle pub and she was found in what was the back yard of the pub. It is one of those cases that you want to get to the bottom of. We have gone through the works with this case. But there was no hit on the DNA database and we have also tried familial DNA searching.”
After revisiting the case in 2008, Mr Bottomley carried out a search of archives in the basement of GMP’s former headquarters, Chester House. Astonishingly he found swabs taken from the scene, which contained a full DNA profile of the possible killer.
Martin Bottomley Head of GMP’s Cold Case Review Unit
(Image: ABNM Photography)
He then interviewed Hardy in jail, who again denied any involvement in the murder. He took a swab from Hardy which was compared to the one taken at the scene, but they did not match.
Mr Bottomley is convinced the DNA from the scene is that of Dorothy’s killer and not Hardy’s.
He told the M.E.N. in 2018: “I did a search of GMP’s property stores and found swabs taken from the crime scene.
“There were crime scene stains and we sent them to the forensic science laboratory and to my amazement, so many years later, they revealed a full DNA profile of Dorothy Leyden’s killer. The swab was taken from material directly adjacent to Dorothy.
“It’s absolutely clear in my mind that the documentation I had from forensic scientists and photographs from the scene, I’m convinced – then and now – that the DNA is from Dorothy’s killer.”
Detectives believe the man who murdered Dorothy was aged 20-30, meaning they would now be in their mid-70s to 80s. Police were given the names of two possible suspects following an emotional appeal by Dorothy’s sister, Pat Atkinson, in 2016.
Recalling the day Dorothy died, Ms Atkinson told the BBC’s Crimewatch: “I remember the police coming out of the front door. I just went out playing and when I came home my mam called me into the living room. I think she told us all one at a time and just told me that Dorothy had been beaten and she had died.”
Dorothy was the eldest of seven children. Describing her sister, Ms Atkinson said: “She was just a lovely, quiet young girl. She loved fashion and hairdressing and makeup. She used to make her own clothes and I just loved everything that she wore.
Dorothy’s sister, Pat Atkinson, made an emotional appeal on the BBC’s Crimewatch back in 2016
(Image: BBC)
“When she got paid, she used to go and buy new clothes or make her own clothes. She just loved fashion and music.”
Despite the DNA profile and having been given two names, detectives are yet to bring Dorothy’s killer to justice. More than five decades later, her loved ones are still searching for answers.
In a fresh appeal this week, Dorothy’s family told of the devastating impact her death has had on their lives.
“Dorothy being murdered changed all our lives forever, we all ponder about what could have been,” they said.
“Our mother died feeling part of her life had been ripped away from her, the constant thoughts of that fatal night haunted her and our family unit. It changed our family from then on, our lives were filled with sadness, loss and pain.
“Dorothy was a mother figure to our younger siblings and best friend. Going forward from when our Dorothy was so cruelly taken we all continued to live our own lives, although mum was always worrying where we were, shouting for us on the doorstep, always being terrified if we weren’t in sight.
“We never thought that people would understand our constant pain and the thoughts of what could have been. Dorothy being murdered was our worst nightmare.
“Anybody who has lost a loved one could understand, however, for Dorothy to be taken in such a brutal savage attack is unthinkable. We will never truly be able to put into words how heartbreaking Dorothy’s murder was, she was a young woman, whose life should have been starting on a path of excitement and new experiences.
“Sadly, this was all taken from her at such an early age and has impacted all of us, as a family, and will continue to do so forever. We know it’s been almost 54 years since Dorothy’s horrific murder, but the passage of time will never heal our grief, so, if reading this brings back any memories or you know something about the person responsible, please contact the police.”
Martin Bottomley, the head of GMP’s Cold Case Unit, added: “Regardless of the passage of time, we are committed to following all lines of enquiry so that we can provide Dorothy’s family with the answers they deserve. We are continuing to appeal for any information the public may have as to who is responsible for this tragic murder.
“We can easily eliminate any innocent person through the DNA evidence we have, but equally the name of the suspect, whether he is still alive or not, can bring much needed comfort and closure to the enduring impact Dorothy’s death has had on her family members. I am convinced someone suspected a friend or family member at the time and all we need is that name.”
Anyone with any information can contact the GMP Cold Case Unit on 0161 856 5978. Information can also be passed online via our Live Chat at gmp.police.uk.
Alternatively, the independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.