DNA REVEALS JOE KAPPEN RESPONSIBLE FOR 1973 MURDERS IN SOUTH WALES

In June 2002, authorities confirmed that DNA evidence linked Joe Kappen, a former nightclub doorman and long-deceased suspect, to the rape and murder of three teenage girls in 1973—more than a decade after his death. Kappen, a father of three, died in 1990 from lung cancer at age 49, never having been formally charged with these crimes. Police exhumed his body last month to conduct new DNA testing, which matched samples collected from the victims.

Kappen was a prime suspect in the case of the 'Saturday Night Strangler,' a moniker given to the serial killer responsible for the murders of 16-year-olds Sandra Newton, Geraldine Hughes, and Pauline Floyd in south Wales. Sandra was killed after leaving a club in Briton Ferry, while Geraldine and Pauline were strangled and found in a wooded area in Llandarcy near Swansea three months later.

Although over 30,000 individuals were questioned during the investigation, Kappen was never arrested. His family maintained his innocence, and he spent his final days unaware of the forensic breakthrough. Despite this, police expressed relief at identifying the perpetrator but also frustration that justice could no longer be served, as Kappen had passed away.

Detective Chief Superintendent Wynne Phillips stated, "While these results are conclusive, the suspect can never stand trial. If he were alive today, he would have been arrested and charged with these offenses. We are not seeking anyone else. These investigations will now be closed."

The victims' families found some comfort in the news. Geraldine Hughes’ father, Denvar, aged 72, commented, "We have been through so much—we just couldn’t take it anymore." A team of four detectives searched the national DNA database, finding a near match linked to one of Kappen’s relatives on forensic records. This led to the request for permission to exhume Kappen’s body from the Home Secretary, marking the first-ever exhumation for DNA testing.

Detective Chief Superintendent Phillips added, "The DNA samples match those from the crime scenes of Sandra, Geraldine, and Pauline. We suspect Kappen might also be responsible for other crimes, including sex attacks, rapes, and murders from the 1970s and early 1980s. We aim to understand his lifestyle and movements better."

In addition to the confirmed cases, police are investigating the 1976 throttling killing of 22-year-old Maureen Mulcahy in Port Talbot to determine if Kappen was involved, along with focusing inquiries in the Humberside region where he previously lived.

The victims' details include Sandra Newton, 16, murdered after leaving a club in Briton Ferry; and Geraldine Hughes, also 16, with her friend Pauline Floyd, similarly strangled in woods near Swansea. Kappen was 32 at the time of these crimes and was married to his first wife, Christine, who has since remarried. Kappen's children—Paul, Beverley, and Deborah—have been informed of the DNA findings. Christine described him as, "a loving family man. He lived on the wrong side of the law and was no angel—but he was no sex monster either."

Reflecting on the unresolved cases, police credited the victims’ families for their perseverance. Detective Chief Superintendent Phillips expressed empathy, stating, "Their lives were stopped in 1973. Our thoughts are with them, and we hope they can now find some peace."

Geraldine Hughes’ mother, Jean, 69, remarked, "You know there are evils out there, but you never believe it will touch you. When it does, it’s a lifetime of hell. Now we hope to close that chapter." Her husband, Denvar, added, "We have relived what Geraldine went through every night for nearly 30 years. Knowing who killed her gives us some peace. We were shocked when we heard the news—I cried all night. It's remarkable how technology has advanced, providing new tools for detection. We hope the stigma over our area will finally be lifted."