THE BOARDED BARN MURDERS

Written by Amanda Wood

40 years ago a macabre double murder took place on bonfire night in 1979. The naked bodies of two wealthy ladies, Anne Carryer and Elizabeth Christine Blood both 39, were found in separate bedrooms in a large 16th-century country cottage near Congleton. They had both been gagged, Mrs. Carryer had also been raped then both ladies were both callously shot in the head with a double-barrelled shotgun.

The house had been owned by Anne Carryer's mother who had recently died. The two ladies who had been friends since school had driven to the cottage separately to sort out her possessions. The murders were discovered by Anne's sister-in-law around 7:30 PM.

The Police lead by superintendent Tom Brooks launched a massive investigation utilising 120 police officers in an attempt to track down the killers.  Roadblocks were set up and every passing motorist was questioned by the police.

Tracker dogs combed the countryside surrounding the cottage searching for clues and the weapons used in the attack.

Police search for clues.

There appeared to be no motive for the brutal attack. Police originally thought it was possibly a burglary gone wrong, as the house had at one time contained many antiques.

In a lucky twist of fate, police were lead 70 miles away to Huddersfield. Here the police investigating the theft of lead from a church roof stumbled upon a sawn-off shotgun, which was hidden beneath the bed of suspect Stephen Anderson.  In turn, this also lead to the arrest of Paul Hebel and Paul Jennings. The three eventually admitted to hiring a Ford Cortina and driving over to Scholar Green.

It is believed locally that the suspects had intended to kidnap a relative of wealthy businessman Alex Humphreys, a local supermarket owner, who in later life became a director at Stoke City Football Club.  It is believed the kidnap plot was to extort money from the wealthy businessman.

Ramsdell Hall 

Sadly for the two ladies, the three men turned up at the wrong house, and with no valuables to take they proceeded with their shocking crime. The three tormented the two ladies forcing them to dance naked for them. Elizabeth then had to watch with a loaded gun to her head, as Jennings raped her best friend. The two women were then lead away to separate bedrooms where they were bound to the bed and shot in the head through pillows with a sawn-off shotgun.  Elizabeth Blood had also been shot in the neck and Anne Carryer was also shot twice in the small of her back.

All three men were convicted and sentenced at Chester Crown Court to serve a minimum of 30 years for murder, aggravated burglary, and rape.

Stephen Aderson committed suicide within hours of his sentence at Risley Remand Centre by setting fire to the mattress in his cell. The two remaining men Phillip Jennings and Paul Hebel it is believed would have been released from prison in 2010. The pair would then be in their mid-50s and able to enjoy many years of freedom unlike the poor two ladies, who they brutally murdered on that chilling night.

I'm sure that this brutal crime will be long remembered in the local area of Scholar Green.