The tragic ‘carbon copy murders’ of Mary Ashford and Barbara Forrest had alarming similarities between them and their murderers which will leave you bewildered.
In fact, the murders were almost carbon copies of each other. But what is unbelievable to comprehend is the fact that the murders occurred 157 years apart.
The Murder of Mary Ashford
In the small suburb of Erdington, located in Birmingham, England, detectives investigated two murders that were eerily similar to each other.
On May 27, 1817, a man came across a bundle of clothing, a hat, and shoes that were located near a large water pit.
The man reported to authorities, who then located the body of 20-year-old Mary Ashford. She was strangled to death. The day before, Mary had attended a dance with her friend Hannah Cox.
Before the dance, Mary had changed out of her work clothes and into a special outfit. While at the dance, Mary met Abraham Thornton, and the two were seen dancing and enjoying each other’s company.
Around midnight Mary and Abraham left to dance and were seen walking in the direction of Mary’s grandfather’s house. At around 4 am, Mary went back to her friend Hannah’s house to change back into her work clothing.
Witnesses would then see Mary walking alone down the road, headed towards her home. This would be the last time Mary would be seen alive.
Mary Ashford Murder Trial
Authorities quickly arrested Abraham for Mary’s murder. Abraham would tell authorities that he was with Mary until about 3 am when he walked her towards Hannah’s home but did not walk Mary all the way there.
Abraham also had witnesses to cooperate with his alibi. Also, there was no concrete physical evidence to tie Abraham back to Mary’s murder.
During Abraham’s trial, he was found not guilty. Mary’s brother William Ashford refused to accept the not-guilty verdict and demanded a second trial from the court. The law at the time allowed a trial by battle which was a fight to the death to prove one’s innocence.
Abraham was willing to fight to defend his innocence but Mary’s brother William refused to participate in the duel.
As a result, Abraham was allowed to walk free but unfortunately, public opinion sided with William in the belief that Abraham was guilty. Abraham was heavily ridiculed until eventually he left England for the united states.
Strangely, it was reported that before Mary’s death, she had felt a sense of foreboding and dread. It was said, that Mary had told Hannah’s mother that she had a bad feeling about the week to come. Unfortunately, Mary’s murder was never solved.
The Murder of Barbara Forrest
Exactly 157 years later, another murder shook Erdington with similar circumstances that occurred on May 27, 1974. The lifeless body of 20-year-old Barbara Forrest was found near a ditch in the park.
Barbara’s cause of death was determined to be strangulation. Barbara had been a nurse at a nearby children’s home before her death.
Barbara was seen with her boyfriend, Simon Belcher at several different bars dancing and having a good time.
Simon told authorities that the last time he saw Barbara alive was around 1 am when he walked her to the bus. Detectives immediately began an investigation and subsequent hunt for Barbara’s killer.
Barbara Forrest Murder Trial
Over 100 detectives were reported to have assisted in Barbara’s case and they quickly focused on Michael Thornton. Michael was Barbara’s co-worker and lived near the location where Barbara was found.
Authorities had allegedly found bloodstains on Michael’s pants and discovered that the alibi given by Michael’s mother was false. Detectives arrested Michael for Barbara’s murder.
During Michael’s trial, the jury found that there was a lack of evidence and found Michael not guilty. Barbara’s sister Erica Forrest refused to accept the verdict and demanded a further investigation and a second trial. But Michael got away scot-free.
It was said that before Barbara’s death, she had also felt a sense of dread and foreboding, as she had told a co-worker just days before her murder that this is going to be her unlucky month.
Eerie Similarities
Barbara’s murder also remains unsolved. Some say that the details of the two murders were just great coincidences but one cannot discount the fact that it’s a lot more than just coincidence.
Just to recap both murders had the following similarities:-
1. The two women were born on the same day but 157 years apart.
2. Both victims were unmarried and 20-year-old.
3. They both put on a new dress, went out with a friend, went to dance, and met their killers.
4. Both the women were killed the same way, in the same place and spot in the early morning hours.
5. They both were killed by men named Thornton who were acquitted of the murders in both cases.
6. Both had prophetic bad feelings before their death.
7. Their respective murder mysteries remain unsolved.
They say history repeats itself but is this a case in which history was destined to reoccur?
There are cases of reincarnation but is it possible that specific events can be reincarnated?
Perhaps this will be answered in the future if there is a third carbon copy of this murder. Till then this remains one of the most mystifying unsolved cases.
