Who Killed Jill Dando?

THE MYSTERIOUS MURDER OF THE BBC PRESENTER IS STILL UNSOLVED TWO DECADES AFTER HER DEATH

- Libby-Jane Charleston

It’s been 23 years since the shocking murder of much-loved BBC journalist Jill Dando. The case made international headlines as Britain mourned the loss of the popular TV presenter. “The murder, in the quiet, leafy street where the cherry trees were in blossom yesterday, remains one of the most high-profile unsolved murders,” said The Times upon the 20th anniversary of the star’s death in 2019.

Who killed the vibrant 37-year-old on April 26, 1999? Some believe Dando was targeted due to her investigations into a paedophile ring within the BBC. During a phone call to the Daily Express, a journalist was told that Dando was killed because she was on the verge of exposing sex abuse within the BBC. According to The Mirror, the source said, “I don’t want to implicate stars, but Jill said they were big names.” Many now believe Dando was about to expose notorious paedophile, TV presenter and celebrity Jimmy Savile. The man who eventually exposed Savile as a paedophile, investigator Mark WilliamsThomas, told the ITV Unsolved program, “I’ve never reviewed a case where there is so much information that was never followed … there are over 100 potential suspects.”

Countless other theories have circled the case over the years, but more than two decades after Dando’s body was found in a pool of blood at her front door, her car keys still clutched in her hand, we still don’t know who killed her – even though convicted sex offender Barry George was found guilty of murder during a trial in July 2001. But, seven years later, he was acquitted after gun residue found on him during the investigation was discredited.