Factfile on a crime that has baffled police
AT 7.30pm on March 26, 1971, off-duty special constable David Nathan was out walking in the Newton Road area of Burton when he stumbled upon a skull protruding from the ground.
It led to the discovery of the skeletal remains of young man buried in a grave about 4ft down and covered over. The victim was naked and in the kneeling position.
A cord was tied around his wrists and another tied his ankles together. His hands were behind his back.
All he had on him were mustardcoloured socks and a woman’s 9ct gold wedding ring on his right hand.
He was between 23 and 39 years old, with short brown hair, slim, and around 5ft 8in tall. His hands were small with well-kept short nails.
He had a partial upper denture and had had extensive dental work done less than six months before his death.
He suffered from torticollis, a condition of the neck (wry neck) that would caused his head to lean to his right.
His chin may have noticeably stuck out. It is believed that he had been buried there for 12 to 18 months.
The cause of death was not determined due to decomposition, but he did not have trauma to the skull.
The wedding ring was manufactured in 1967/1968 by Henry Showell Ltd in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. It was one of a batch of 5,000 made.
His socks were from a local stall at Burton Market and both cords were found to come from Bradford, West Yorkshire.
Back then, there were only two routes to the spot were Fred was found - once the site of a flint mill. One was across a bridge that was gated and locked on both sides. Police said it was unlikely the killers used that walkway.
The other route was across Burton Bridge, along a rough track and through fields.