Shocking murder of Playboy Bunny found with throat slit in East London flat with killer still on the loose

In a case described as one of the most horrific seen by detectives, the sadistic murder of a German model shocked everyone who knew her. Eve Stratford had been a popular figure in the London nightlife scene until she was attacked at her flat in East London, with her throat slashed from ear to ear.

The 21-year-old was discovered by her boyfriend just an hour after her neighbour had heard a loud thudding noise from her flat. She had been grotesquely tied up, with police officers believing her murder to have been sexually motivated.

While the investigation ran cold in 1976, it took a shock turn 30 years later after forensic scientists matched the DNA of her killer to the unidentified murderer of a young schoolgirl, who had been attacked down an alleyway in Hounslow. Here’s everything we know about the gruesome murders.

At the time of her murder, Eve had been working as a ‘bunny girl’ cocktail waitress and model at the glamorous Playboy Club in Park Lane. She was known to lead a sociable lifestyle and regularly attended the same events as high-profile individuals such as Sid James and Eric Morecambe.

Just a few days before she was killed, Eve had posed for the front cover of the adult magazine Mayfair, which police later concluded had likely enticed her killer. In her interview, she had spoken openly about her sex life and had said that she lived alone with a cat.

It also emerged during the course of the investigation that she had received a number of mysterious phone calls, including three on the day of her murder. Each time, the caller would either hang up or would whisper obscenities down the line.

She was last seen alive by a witness walking alone near her home in Leyton at around 3.58pm on March 18, 1975. She had been carrying a bouquet of flowers, which was later found discarded in her hallway, suggesting that she had been confronted as soon as she arrived in the building.

Half an hour later, another resident beneath her flat overheard the voices of a man and woman in conversation, followed by a loud thud noise. Her body was then discovered by her boyfriend at 5.25pm after he returned home from work. 

The ‘most horrific murder scene’

 

Eve's body was discovered by her boyfriend at her flat on Lynhurst Drive in East London© Daily Mirror

Eve was murdered in the most sadistic manner, with pathologists believing her throat to have been slit between eight to 12 times in the brutal attack. Her neck and face had been extensively mutilated and she was partially unclothed, with a nylon stocking tied around one ankle and her hands bound with a scarf.

It was strongly believed that she had been sexually assaulted and semen was found on vaginal swabs. She was also only dressed in pink underwear with a nylon negligee open at the front. A post-mortem examination held at Walthamstow mortuary gave her cause of death as knife wounds to the throat.

Detectives later called it one of the most horrific murder scenes they had witnessed, and a major investigation was launched that received significant press coverage. As there were no signs of forced entry and neighbours had not heard any screams for help, police considered the possibility that her attacker was a friend or acquaintance that she had let in.

The theory that it was a secret lover was discarded, as Eve would have known that her boyfriend was due to return home at any time. It was also considered that she may have been terrified and complied with her killer’s demands, which would explain why she had not called for help.

Despite searches of nearby gardens and drained, the murder weapon was never found. Two photofits were also released of two men that had been spotted in the area that detectives wished to speak to, but nothing came of these appeals. However in October 1975, police in Liverpool did find newspaper reports of Eve smeared with lipstick in an empty bedsit. There were also magazine photos of the model, which looked as though they had been stabbed with a dart. 

DNA breakthrough

After all leads had been exhausted, the investigation into her murder began to wind down in 1976. As part of a cold case review, it was revisited in 2004 and a shocking breakthrough was made after a DNA profile was recovered from her clothing.

In 2006, this profile was matched to the DNA profile of the unidentified killer of 16-year-old schoolgirl Lynne Weedon. She had been struck over the head with a blunt object and raped down an alleyway in Hounslow on September 3, 1975. Her attacker had lifted her into the grounds of a power station and left her for dead during the late night attack.

She was discovered the following morning by a caretaker and died a week later in hospital of her injuries. Both cases were featured in September 2007 on BBC Crimewatch with DCI Andy Mortimer saying that both murders were “without doubt” sexually motivated and were pre-meditated.

He also said that it was unlikely the killer had only committed these crimes and had never attacked again. The Metropolitan Police issued a fresh appeal on March 25, 2015, to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Eve’s murder, with a £40,000 reward on offer.

The lead detective said: “It’s inconceivable the killer of Eve and Lynne has kept the perfect secret for 40 years. It’s a heavy burden to carry and he must have let details slip over the years – maybe to a partner, a friend, even a cellmate – and I would appeal to anyone with information to contact us.”