If Sheila Did It

[mb1]

If Sheila did it... Just want to run through what she must have done/not done based on the evidence.

Sheila's illness was a serious one. Despite an historical lack of violence to others, she 'flipped', killed her children, parents and finally herself.

Correct anything that is countered by evidence.

1) The gun - she must have wiped down the weapon prior to use. Two poor prints from Sheila and JB. Yet Neville used the gun all the time, and JB stated he used it the night before.

2) Put on gloves - (see prints on gun) plus no prints on the cartridges.
 
3) Kills family with gun and silencer - there is familial blood in the silencer, whoever it comes from.
      a) 6'4'' Nevill puts up a sustained fight, but Sheila suffers no injuries, her fingernails are intact etc.
      b) Boys' deaths demonstrate good recoil anticipation with a gun (purchased Nov 84) that no-one has
          seen her use before. She has not been known to shoot in her adult life.

4) Removes silencer and places in gun cupboard.

5) Removes clothing (unless she carried out killings wearing only knickers and tights/leggings) and   
    gloves as these would be contaminated by blood and gun residue. Hides these items - never
    discovered.

6) Removes and washes tights, hanging these over the bannisters. Removes knickers and puts to soak
    in a bucket.

7) Washes all trace of blood and gun residue from her body. Removes all traces of blood from sink/bath
    used.

Shoots herself. This is not immediately fatal. Shoots herself again.   
         
Everyone happy?

[curiousessex]

I think I have read that the weapon normally had both a sight and a silencer fitted so in point 4 the sight would also have had to have been removed at some point, if normal use included the weapon being fixed with a sight.

Additionally there is no mention of getting the Bible in preparation of shooting herself.

[joolz1975]

You know what confuses me? (and its so stupid im embarrased to say it outloud)

As a woman id be too ashamed to think that i would be found by a bunch of strangers wearing just a nightdress. Id be worried that id be seen half undressed by a bunch of strange men!

I know its really stupid but if i was going to commit murder/suicide id do it fully clothed!

Please dont laugh and call me a numpty!

[curiousessex]

In my opinion not stupid at all your example is a genuine example of how a female mind might work (and you have stated this is how your mind would work). Something a male mind may very well not consider to such a degree.

In fact until you mentioned it.........

[Ajax]

You know what confuses me? (and its so stupid im embarrased to say it outloud)

As a woman id be too ashamed to think that i would be found by a bunch of strangers wearing just a nightdress. Id be worried that id be seen half undressed by a bunch of strange men!

I know its really stupid but if i was going to commit murder/suicide id do it fully clothed!

Please dont laugh and call me a numpty!

I wouldn't say you were a numpty for saying something like this, it's just the sort of everyday insight the whole thing needs, in my opinion. I have always been bothered by a similar train of thought - if Sheila was the killer she must have got changed into her nightdress beforehand, anticipating going to bed. If murder was on her mind from the conversation re: fostering earlier in the evening, why would she do this? it makes no sense.

[shonapugs]

I have said this all along - would Sheila have "rampaged" through the house in such a vulnerable state, totally naked except for a flimsy nightdress. No underwear, no shoes. I feel that this tells us a lot.

[joolz1975]

Phew thought you would all laugh!!

This is my main reason for not thinking Sheila did it! a mentally unstable woman planning  a murder i feel would not bother getting undressed and going to bed. Surely in such an agitated state she would be pacing around and not knowing what to do (if this was the case i cant see her parents going to be either!!)

[curiousessex]

Phew thought you would all laugh!!

This is my main reason for not thinking Sheila did it! a mentally unstable woman planning  a murder i feel would not bother getting undressed and going to bed. Surely in such an agitated state she would be pacing around and not knowing what to do (if this was the case i cant see her parents going to be either!!)

For the avoidance of doubt another good 'female mind' insight post.

[Janet (Formerly known as Takeshi)]

Sheila was also wearing a petticoat which became heavily bloodstained, according to Mike Tesko. There is a thread on this forum with a link to a photograph of this petticoat but unfortunately the link no longer works. I have asked Mike at least three times if he could repost the photograph but I have had no response.

Aside from that, I would like to submit a further theory from a women's point of view lol. Maybe Sheila was fully clothed whilst committing the four murders but then washed and changed into her nightdress before committing suicide. I have read that sufferers of paranoid schizophrenia do undertake such ritualistic behaviour. This could also account for the lack of forensic evidence found upon her body.

[mb1]

I think Joolz is right is her thinking - many female suicides present their 'best' self as their 'last' self to the world.

Oops - forgot the Bible, rested on the arm.

I can't find the 'petticoat' mentioned.

My issue is why would someone who has 'flipped' care about fingerprints (cartridges) etc. Paranoid schizophrenics aren't 'organised killers'. They act on impulse, usually after a period of not taking their medication and withdrawing from contact. Sheila received her main medication by injection and was still mixing with people - who had previously been able to judge when outside help was needed. Why a sudden, overwhelming violent impulse?

Re another post. Camden Social Services assisted with 'day foster care' for the (pre-school age) children when Sheila first became ill at the beginning of 1979. The children were never the subject of a removal order.

[Janet (Formerly known as Takeshi)]

I can't find the 'petticoat' mentioned.

This is the name of the thread which refers to the petticoat "New blood stained petticoat, clue - was Sheila wearing this over her nightdress?"
Started by mike tesko

It is currently on page 6 of the forum. I would post a link but I don't know how to do it 

[joolz1975]

Sheila was also wearing a petticoat which became heavily bloodstained, according to Mike Tesko. There is a thread on this forum with a link to a photograph of this petticoat but unfortunately the link no longer works. I have asked Mike at least three times if he could repost the photograph but I have had no response.

Aside from that, I would like to submit a further theory from a women's point of view lol. Maybe Sheila was fully clothed whilst committing the four murders but then washed and changed into her nightdress before committing suicide. I have read that sufferers of paranoid schizophrenia do undertake such ritualistic behaviour. This could also account for the lack of forensic evidence found upon her body.

Possible i suppose but if Neville phoned Jeremy sometime around  3.30am (ish) and said sheila had a gun (no mention that she had shot anyone at this point ) and then police arrived before 4am i dont see she would have time to shoot her whole family, clean up the guns and then wash and change. Yeh the police didnt enter the house till 7am but if my hiuse was surrounded by armed police i wouldnt bother having a wash iz be watching exactly what was going off and not getti g distracted for even a second.

[joolz1975]

Sorry for any spellng mistakes by the way! Im on my phone it keeps missing letters and things!!

[Janet (Formerly known as Takeshi)]

Possible i suppose but if Neville phoned Jeremy sometime around  3.30am (ish) and said sheila had a gun (no mention that she had shot anyone at this point ) and then police arrived before 4am i dont see she would have time to shoot her whole family, clean up the guns and then wash and change. Yeh the police didnt enter the house till 7am but if my hiuse was surrounded by armed police i wouldnt bother having a wash iz be watching exactly what was going off and not getti g distracted for even a second.

The police didn't enter the house until 7.35am. That gives Sheila 4 hours to finish the murders, wash, change and then kill herself.

[joolz1975]

Possible i suppose but if Neville phoned Jeremy sometime around  3.30am (ish) and said sheila had a gun (no mention that she had shot anyone at this point ) and then police arrived before 4am i dont see she would have time to shoot her whole family, clean up the guns and then wash and change. Yeh the police didnt enter the house till 7am but if my hiuse was surrounded by armed police i wouldnt bother having a wash iz be watching exactly what was going off and not getti g distracted for even a second.

The police didn't enter the house until 7.35am. That gives Sheila 4 hours to finish the murders, wash, change and then kill herself.

I see what your saying but if you had murdered your whole family and your house was surriunded by police would you have a wash and put your underwear in a bucket to soak?