The mystery surrounding the Bible John murders in Glasgow between 1968 and 1969 may be closer to being solved after a new DNA breakthrough.
Australian author Jill Bavin-Mizzi has put forward a new suspect named John Templeton in her book titled Bible John: A New Suspect.
In the book, Bavin-Mizzi claimed she is “convinced” he was the infamous serial killer responsible for the deaths of three women.
Templeton died in 2015 but was linked to the case after Bavin-Mizzi looked into the ancestry of the original prime suspect named John Irvine McInnes, the Daily Record reported.
McInnes was a former soldier and was initially linked to the murder of Helen Puttock in 1969, but DNA comparisons taken from Helen’s clothes during a 1996 cold case review did not conclusively match McInnes or his siblings.
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However, further genealogical research by Bavin-Mizzi eventually pointed to Templeton, whose DNA showed patterns similar to those from the semen stain found on Helen’s stockings.
Bavin-Mizzi added that Templeton’s name had been mentioned during police investigations and that Helen’s sister, Jean McLachlan, who was the last person to see her sister alive, had indicated that the killer had introduced himself using a name similar to Templeton.
The author said: “The name John Templeton exists among the ancestors of Hector and Janet McInnes, siblings whose DNA samples share patterns with the DNA profile from the semen stain on Helen’s stockings.
“I was fortunate to find well-documented genealogical records for the McInnes family. I realised the killer had likely used his real name when he introduced himself to Helen and Jeannie that night in the Barrowland Ballroom.”
The murders of Helen, Jemima MacDonald, and Patricia Docker have remained unsolved for over 50 years.
All three women had things in common such as being mothers to young children and reportedly menstruating at the time of their deaths.
Bavin-Mizzi also tracked down Templeton’s ex-wife, who lived with him until 1974 but expressed no suspicions about her former husband’s involvement in the murders.
Despite Templeton’s photo bearing a likeness to the composite sketch of Bible John, former detective superintendent David Swindle remains unconvinced that the same person was responsible for all three murders.
Police Scotland has also said that the murders of Helen, Jemima, and Patricia remain unresolved but are subject to ongoing review.
Their spokesperson said: “The murders of Helen Puttock, Jemima McDonald and Patricia Docker remain unresolved. However, as with all unresolved cases, they are subject to review and any new information about their deaths will be investigated.”
