Erdington Double Murder Coincidence
Two murders. 157 years apart. Same day. Same location. Same victim profile. Same circumstances. Even the suspects had similar names. The Erdington Double Murder coincidence defies probability.
The Erdington Double Murder is a famous example of an extraordinary coincidence—two remarkably similar murders separated by 157 years.
The Similarities
Both murders shared the same date (May 27), the same location (Erdington, Birmingham), and victims named Mary. Both victims were young women found in the same area who had been sexually assaulted. The crimes occurred 157 years apart (1817 and 1974).
Mary Ashford (1817)
On May 27, 1817, Mary Ashford was found dead in a flooded pit in Erdington. She had been at a dance and was last seen with Abraham Thornton. Thornton was acquitted of the crime.
Barbara Forrest (1974)
On May 27, 1974, Barbara Forrest was found dead in similar circumstances in Erdington. She had been at a club and was last seen near the same area. Michael Thornton was convicted of her murder.
The Coincidences
Researchers noted that both victims were named Mary (Forrest’s middle name was Mary). They were similar ages, killed on the same date in the same location. Both had attended evening entertainment, and both suspects’ surnames were Thornton.
Statistical Analysis
The probability of these coincidences is extraordinary, but coincidences do occur. The human mind seeks patterns, and statistics can be misleading in cases like this.
Sources
- Various historical and journalistic accounts
May 27 comes every year. Most years, nothing happens. But twice in Erdington, 157 years apart, a young woman named Mary died in water after a night out. The men accused shared a surname. Call it coincidence. Call it fate. Call it impossible. It happened anyway.