Cold case review links John Cooper to 1976 double murder in Wales

In December 1976, two siblings, Griff Thomas, aged 73, and his sister Martha Thomas, 70, were found dead in their farmhouse in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, Wales. The case remained unsolved for decades, haunting the local community. Martha was discovered with severe head injuries, while Griff's body was burned. Over the years, suspicions arose linking the murders to John Cooper, a notorious serial killer known as the 'Bullseye' killer, who was from the same area. Cooper was eventually arrested in 2009 after advancements in forensic technology allowed investigators to connect him to the crime through a police e-fit that matched his appearance on the game show Bullseye. He had been living in Milford Haven for much of his life, and his criminal activities bore similarities to the Thomas siblings' case. In 2011, Cooper argued that the original inquest verdicts were 'unsafe' and called for a review of the case. Despite the connections, some experts expressed skepticism about Cooper's involvement, citing differences in his modus operandi compared to the Thomases' deaths. The investigation revealed that a significant amount of cash was left untouched at the farmhouse, raising further questions about the motive behind the murders. Recently, the case has been handed to HM Coroner for further guidance, and Dyfed-Powys Police have confirmed that extensive forensic work has been undertaken, including fingerprint analysis and DNA enquiries. The family of Griff and Martha Thomas has been kept informed of the progress made in the review, which includes the retrieval of original investigation materials and the enhancement of fingerprint evidence. The outcome of this renewed investigation remains uncertain, but it has reignited interest in a case that has long puzzled the community.