Georgia Hardstark

And you know it as a listener. Yeah. So but back in August of 1981, that peaceful facade was shattered when a well-liked, friendly local shopkeeper was found brutally murdered in the back of her convenience store. What followed was a case that went cold for 40 years until a then teenage girl came forward with a shocking admission and the whole case unraveled.

Well, this is the story of the murder of Carol Morgan. The main sources I use for this story are remarks from the judge from the eventual sentencing in this case and reporting from the BBC, of course, and the rest of the sources can be found in the show notes. So we're in 1981 and Carol and Alan are a couple who met in a support group for divorced people and got married four years later.

Well, this is the story of the murder of Carol Morgan. The main sources I use for this story are remarks from the judge from the eventual sentencing in this case and reporting from the BBC, of course, and the rest of the sources can be found in the show notes. So we're in 1981 and Carol and Alan are a couple who met in a support group for divorced people and got married four years later.

Carol's 36. Alan is a younger man at 31. Hot.

Carol's 36. Alan is a younger man at 31. Hot.

Yeah.

Yeah.

It's also so funny, like, and this is like, you know, when we're always like in today's money, that would be whatever. It's also like in today's age, 31 is actually 45. Right. You know what I mean? Yes. And they do look like this typical British couple. She's got this pretty like feathery blonde bob. He's got this weird Caesar cut and looks kind of sketch, you know, but very British.

It's also so funny, like, and this is like, you know, when we're always like in today's money, that would be whatever. It's also like in today's age, 31 is actually 45. Right. You know what I mean? Yes. And they do look like this typical British couple. She's got this pretty like feathery blonde bob. He's got this weird Caesar cut and looks kind of sketch, you know, but very British.

And like 36 and 31 is like actually in your late 40s and in England in the 80s. Yeah, all of us. All of us. I mean, not a pretty time. So together they're raising two kids, Dean, who's 14, and Jane, who's 12. And the kids are from Carol's previous marriage. And for the past year and a half, the Morgans have owned and operated a little corner store in a residential neighborhood.

And like 36 and 31 is like actually in your late 40s and in England in the 80s. Yeah, all of us. All of us. I mean, not a pretty time. So together they're raising two kids, Dean, who's 14, and Jane, who's 12. And the kids are from Carol's previous marriage. And for the past year and a half, the Morgans have owned and operated a little corner store in a residential neighborhood.

It's described interchangeably as a convenience store and a newsstand. So I think it's like that, but British. So kind of the like place where you buy a newspaper or candy or cigarettes, just kind of like a pop in little British, you know, grocer, green grocer.

It's described interchangeably as a convenience store and a newsstand. So I think it's like that, but British. So kind of the like place where you buy a newspaper or candy or cigarettes, just kind of like a pop in little British, you know, grocer, green grocer.

Yeah, maybe. Maybe. But more newspapers. Right. So I can't breathe in this fucking dress. So the family lives in the apartment above the shop. Carol is well-liked in the village and is known for being kind and helpful around the shop. And she's often described as a absolutely devoted mother to her two children. So here we are. It's a Thursday night, August 13th, 1981.

Yeah, maybe. Maybe. But more newspapers. Right. So I can't breathe in this fucking dress. So the family lives in the apartment above the shop. Carol is well-liked in the village and is known for being kind and helpful around the shop. And she's often described as a absolutely devoted mother to her two children. So here we are. It's a Thursday night, August 13th, 1981.

That evening, Alan had taken the teens to a double feature movie in nearby Luton. Now, the three of them going to see a movie is actually unusual in itself. This stepdad taking the two, a 12 and 14 year old to see this movie is weird because Alan didn't really spend a lot of time with the kids when Carol wasn't around. In fact, the family didn't do much together afterwards.

That evening, Alan had taken the teens to a double feature movie in nearby Luton. Now, the three of them going to see a movie is actually unusual in itself. This stepdad taking the two, a 12 and 14 year old to see this movie is weird because Alan didn't really spend a lot of time with the kids when Carol wasn't around. In fact, the family didn't do much together afterwards.

at all anymore especially because there's tension in the marriage but for some reason that night they go to a double feature and things seem fine they get back to the shop around 10 45 pm when they come back alan sends the kids up to the apartment while he goes into the shop When he goes in, he sees that it's a mess and merchandise is scattered everywhere, almost like there's been a robbery.

at all anymore especially because there's tension in the marriage but for some reason that night they go to a double feature and things seem fine they get back to the shop around 10 45 pm when they come back alan sends the kids up to the apartment while he goes into the shop When he goes in, he sees that it's a mess and merchandise is scattered everywhere, almost like there's been a robbery.

He proceeds to the storeroom in the back, and there he's met with the horrifying discovery of Carol's body. She's lying in a pool of blood. Her body had been savagely attacked with what investigators will later believe to be either a machete or a cleaver or an axe. Horrible. I know. She's been struck between 10 and 15 times. It's completely savage.