Fresh hope for family of mother murdered by her husband 34 years ago after his cellmate revealed possible location of her body during a game of Scrabble behind bars
- The family of Veronica Packman, 40, given new hope after a Daily Mail article
- The mother was murdered by her husband Russell Causley, 34 years ago
- Causley’s former cellmate told how he would mention an area during Scrabble
The family of a mother murdered by her husband 34 years ago have been given new hope of finding her body after an article in the Daily Mail resulted in a fresh clue.
Russell Causley, now 76, butchered his wife Veronica Packman, 40, in 1985 and has spent the last 23 years in prison – but will go before the parole board in the new year to try to secure his release.
Their devastated daughter Sam Gillingham wants him to stay locked up until he reveals what he did to her mother.
The family of Veronica Packman (left with Russell Causley and their daughter), 40, have new hope of finding her body
Veronica’s husband Russell Causley, now 76, was convicted of killing her after she went missing in 1985 from the family home in Bournemouth
After the Mail published her appeal for information last month, Causley’s former cellmate revealed how the killer used to mention Romney Marsh, an area of coastal wetland in Kent, as they played Scrabble.
Amazingly, a medium had also told Mrs Gillingham to look in a place by the sea with the letters ‘R’ and ‘O’ in its name.
In 1984 her father moved his young mistress, Patricia Causley, into the family home, and later took her surname.
A year later, Mrs Gillingham, then 16, returned from school to her Bournemouth home to find a note, supposedly from her mother, along with her wedding ring. The letter said she was leaving their family.
Causley was later jailed for two years for trying to fake his death in a boating accident as part of million-pound insurance scam.
Police reopened their investigation into Mrs Packman’s disappearance following a jail cell confession where Causley allegedly told of the ‘perfect’ murder of his ‘bitch wife’.
He was convicted of murder in 1996, but it was quashed in 2003.
Causley was found guilty at a retrial a year later – after his sister said she had heard him admit the killing.
While the Queen’s Speech contained a bill to keep killers in jail until they reveal where their victims’ bodies are buried – known as Helen’s Law after murdered insurance clerk Helen McCourt – Mrs Gillingham fears it may come too late for their family.
They are hopeful the Romney Marsh clue may reveal more information.
Grandson Neil Gillingham (left) and daughter Sam Gillingham (right) stand outside Parliament campaigning for Helen’s Law