THE FATHER of a woman killed by a vicious railway attacker 37 years ago has died without ever finding out who murdered her.
Young Deborah Linsley was travelling from Petts Wood in south London to London Victoria when she was killed in a private carriage.
Doug Seeburg – The SunArthur passed away without ever knowing who is responsible for killing his daughter[/caption]
She was stabbed a shocking 11 times, with one being a blow to her heart.
The brave 26-year-old tried to fight of her attacker, defensive wounds showed.
A porter discovered her body in the blood-soaked coach when the train arrived at its final stop.
Her death is one of Britain’s coldest cases and her father Arthur Linsley tirelessly fought to find out what happened to her.
But it has now been revealed that he passed away in 2023 and the house where Deborah grew up in Bromley, Kent, was sold to a new family last year.
A neighbour said this week: “We all hoped he’d see the day they found Debbie’s killer.”
Deborah, 26, was born to insurance broker Arthur and his wife Marguerite.
She had moved to Edinburgh to pursue a career as a hotel manager and on the week of her death had returned to stay at the family home so she could attend a course.
On the afternoon of Wednesday March 23, 1988, she had lunch with her brother Gordon, who then gave her a lift to Petts Wood station so she could begin the journey back to Scotland.
She boarded the Orpington to London Victoria train at 14:16, sitting in an empty private carriage.
Shortly after the train left the last stop at Brixton, a French au pair onboard heard a scream.
Police initially suspected the murder may have been an attempted rape.
Deborah had defensive marks on her hands and had seriously injured her attacker.
His blood was found at the scene and police have a full DNA profile.
However despite familial DNA testing they have never uncovered a match and the case remains unsolved.
Deborah was buried in the bridesmaid’s dress she would have worn to her brother’s wedding two weeks after her murder.
Her mother died in 2011, but her dad was still appealing for information before he died.
In 2018, on the 30th anniversary, he said: “My daughter was murdered 30 years ago and despite the DNA profile of the suspect being available, the person responsible has still not been found.
“I appealed in 2013 for those who had suspicions about a partner, a friend or a relative to please come forward and I renew that appeal now on this anniversary of Debbie’s death.”
Closed off private carriages had begun to be phased out, but the young woman’s tragic death led to an outcry over women’s safety in the compartments and train companies sped up their removal.
A spokesperson for the Met Police said detectives were always looking for new ways to identify the suspect using the DNA.
The case remains open.
They added: “The investigation into the murder of 26-year-old Debbie Linsley remains open, with detectives exploring ways to identify the suspect using DNA evidence.
“Debbie, from Bromley but living and working in Edinburgh at the time of her murder, was stabbed to death on the 14.16 train from Orpington to London Victoria on Wednesday, 23 March 1988.
“She boarded the train at Petts Wood in south-east London and entered an old-fashioned compartment with room for six people and doors at each side of the carriage.
“The train arrived at platform 2 at Victoria railway station and at around 14.50hrs, her body was discovered on the floor by British Rail staff.
“Detectives have a full DNA profile of the suspect – Debbie fought off her killer during the attack and traces of blood belonging to someone other than Debbie were found at the scene – and detectives are continuing to explore all opportunities, including advancements in DNA technology.
“The current investigation is being led by the Met’s Specialist Casework Investigation Team which investigates unsolved, historical cases.”
Doug Seeburg – The SunArthur Linsley with an oil painting of Deborah behind at his Bromley home[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
