Constance Aris

Constance Aris was killed in her terrace house at 32 Roman Road, Cheltenham Spa.

She had been battered to death with an axe-like weapon whilst sitting in her favourite fireside armchair. She was found by her son and his wife at 9am on Tuesday 28 February 1985 after he was contacted by neighbours when they noticed that she hadn't opened her curtains by breakfast time.

She had been hit over the head five times. The police said that based on the fact that she was clubbed to death in her armchair in her front room whilst fully dressed and with the television still on, suggested that the murder took place on the Monday night.

The head of the CID said:

She was last seen at her home on the Wednesday at 6.30pm although another witness said they thought that they had seen her at her door at 8.15pm and the police thought that she had been murdered shortly after.

They said that it was likely that the murderer took the axe to the house with him. The police noted:

It was thought that theft had been the motive, the house had been ransacked, but all the items that were stolen had been virtually worthless. Items taken included two watches, several lapel stick pins, an ice-cream scoop, a pot of jam, a silver decorative container for After Eight Mints and her shopping money. It was noted that they were hardly the items that an experienced burglar would go after. One detective said:

None of the items were recovered.

The police noted that if the motive had been robbery, that beating Constance Aris as they had would hardly have been required as she would not have posed much of a threat.

Her house showed no signs of a break-in, but the front door was found ajar and the police said that it was possible that she had known her killer or that they had smooth talked their way in.

The murder weapon was not found and there was no description of any suspect. It was noted that her house was not far from Cheltenham railway station and it was considered that her murderer might have left by train.

It was noted that many of the aspects of the case remained a mystery, including the sex of the murderer.

Earlier on the day of her murder she had been to a meeting if the Friendly Society at St Marks Community Centre. She was last seen by a friend that walked her home. Her friend said:

On her way home Constance Aris bought some fish and chips and it was thought that she might have then been followed home. She would have walked from Coronation Square, through Libertus Road and then along Rowanfield Road to Roman Road and home.

The police noted that they were satisfied that they had identified everyone in Roam Road at the time of the murder, except the killer.

A detective added:

Constance Aris had also been known as Little Granny and Granny Aris. She had been barely 5ft tall.