Police are searching a field close to where murdered mum Linda Razzell (pictured) went missing 17 years ago
Police are searching a field close to where murdered mother Linda Razzell went missing 17 years ago.
She was last seen on March 19, 2002, in Swindon, Wiltshire after driving to work at a college and her mobile phone was found dumped in a nearby alleyway.
In 2003, her estranged husband Glyn Razzell was jailed for life for the murder of Linda, 41.
The latest search could suggest police could be getting close to finding her body.
It is taking place less than half-a-mile from Mrs Razzell’s former home in Pentylands Close after police were given a tip-off by members of the public.
Today a blue and white forensic tent was erected in a field near Pentylands Lane, in Highworth, Swindon, Wiltshire
The search is taking place less than half-a-mile from Mrs Razzell’s former home in Pentylands Close after police were given a tip-off by members of the public. Pictured, a police road block off Pentylands Lane where the search is taking place
In 2003, Linda’s estranged husband Glyn Razzell (pictured) was jailed for life for her murder
The mother-of-four’s body has never been found and Mr Razzell, a former insurance investment manager continues to protest his innocence from prison.
Today a blue and white forensic tent was erected in a field near Pentylands Lane, in Highworth, Swindon, Wiltshire.
The search is taking place less than half-a-mile from Mrs Razzell’s former home in Pentylands Close.
Wiltshire Police say detectives are keeping ‘an open mind’ as to whether the search is connected with the college worker’s murder.
A police spokeswoman said: ‘We are conducting some local enquiries in the Highworth area following information from a member of the public.
‘As part of these enquiries, we have cordoned off an area in a field off Pentylands Lane.
‘People in the local area are, therefore, likely to see an increased police presence in this area over the weekend. Our enquiries also include the use of police dogs.
‘As these enquiries are at an early stage, it would be inappropriate to comment at further at this time.’
The scene in Wiltshire near the house of Linda Razzell where police are digging for a body is circled at the bottom. The search is taking place less than half-a-mile from Mrs Razzell’s former home, Pentylands Close, which is circled at the top
Wiltshire Police say detectives are keeping ‘an open mind’ as to whether the search is connected with the college worker’s murder. Police officers are seen searching the field
In 2003, former insurance investment manager Glyn Razzell was jailed for life for the murder of his estranged wife Linda, 41. Pictured, a police road block near the field which is being searched
An aerial view of Pentylands Close, the former home of Linda Razzell
Last year a BBC documentary raised doubts over Mr Razzell’s guilt.
Despite Mr Razzell’s conviction, his wife’s murder is one of several unsolved cases in the area linked with killer taxi driver Christopher Halliwell.
Halliwell, 55, was convicted of stabbing and strangling Becky Godden, 20, in 2003 and abducting and killing Sian O’Callaghan, 22, in Swindon, in 2011.
The whereabouts of Vietnamese immigrant Thi Hai Nguyen, 20, have also been unknown since she went missing from her temporary home in Swindon in June 2005.
Razzell was convicted of his wife’s murder in November 2003, following a month-long trial at Bristol Crown Court. The scene in Wiltshire near the house of Linda Razzell where police are searching
Police officers have cordoned off an area in a field off Pentylands Lane.
Police diver removes a plastic bag containing items from the lake at Queen’s Park, Swindon, March 22 2002 during the search for Linda Razzell
The last time Linda was seen by her children and boyfriend was March 19, 2002.
Detectives said there was a strong suggestion Mrs Razzell had been abducted after her mobile phone was found near her abandoned car.
Spots of blood in the boot of the car Mr Razzell was using matched that of his estranged wife. The prosecution said the motive for the killing was that Razzell wanted to avoid an expensive divorce settlement.
Razzell’s defence team maintain that the incriminating blood was discovered only after a third forensic examination and was deliberately planted.
They also say there was no blood, hair or fibres from Ms Razzell on his clothing.
In 2008, the Criminal Cases Review Commission decided against referring the case to the Court of Appeal.
Claims have been made that Swindon taxi driver Christopher Halliwell – the double serial killer who was jailed for murdering Becky Godden and Sian O’Callaghan – could be linked to the crime.
Halliwell did building work Glyn Razzell’s marital home, but the double killer allegedly continued to ‘stalk’ her even when the work came to an end.
Sandy Jonsson – a friend of Halliwell’s ex-wife who helped Miss Godden’s mother fight for justice – claimed in 2016 that Halliwell became ‘obsessed’ with Ms Razzell before her disappearance.
Mrs Razzell went missing on March 19 – a day considered potentially ‘special’ to Halliwell and the same date that one of his victims Sian O’Callaghan went missing.
It was also the date, Halliwell was dumped by his girlfriend while he was in prison in the 1980s.