Hardy Detective Agency featuring Hardy Boys Fan Fiction

SERIAL KILLER FOUND GUILTY

LIFE SENTENCE IMPOSED

John Alfred Winter, arrested three months ago after terrorising four local teenagers in Black’s Forest, has today been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murders of three other young adults over five years ago.

The sentence was handed down today by Judge Michael Dixon after the jury found Winter guilty of the murders of Janet Howard, 23, Robert Allan, 24, and Anne Walsh, 22, all originally from Hobson’s Point. Although Winter maintained his innocence regarding their murders, it was decided that personal items found in his possession and the manner of the victims’ deaths, left no room for reasonable doubt that he was their killer. Winter pleaded guilty to the unlawful imprisonment of Vanessa Bender, 17, and Frank Hardy, 18, the shooting and wounding of Joseph Hardy, 17, and the attempted drowning of Callie Shaw, 18. For these crimes he received an additional sentence of 15 years to be served concurrently with the life sentence. Even if parole was to be granted, Winter is unlikely to ever be released.

The four Bayport teenagers, whom police say were extremely lucky to escape with their lives, were tormented by Winter over three days after he came upon their campsite. The court heard details of how Joseph Hardy and Ms. Shaw risked their lives to rescue Frank Hardy and Ms. Bender after they were captured by Winter. Fenton Hardy, private investigator and father of the two boys, spoke of the case outside the court once the trial had ended.

‘While this has been a very unfortunate business, some good has come from it. There are now three families who have closure after five years of wondering about the fate of their loved ones. While my sons and their friends behaved in a heroic fashion and are pleased that three unsolved cases can now be put to rest, it has not been without personal cost. Our thanks go to the local police, our legal representatives, and our friends who have supported us during this difficult time.’

For more details and pictures, turn to page four."

The first and third pages of the newspaper were turned. Interested eyes scanned the photographs. One showed a tall, distinguished looking man walking down the court steps with his arm around a petite, blonde woman, presumably his wife. Another featured a dark-haired, younger version of the distinguished man, with his arm around a shorter, attractive young lady. The third showed a blonde youth with one arm still in a sling and the other placed protectively around the waist of a striking girl, almost as tall as he was. The pair was flanked by a well-built, blonde youth, and a stocky, brown-haired young man. All wore serious expressions and none appeared to be particularly pleased with being photographed.

The interested eyes narrowed as they scrutinized the photographs, taking careful note of every detail. A pair of scissors was reached for. The photographs were cut out, the rest of the paper discarded.

Craig Winter pinned the photographs to the wall of the room that served him as a small office. He then leant back in his chair, placing his hands behind his neck and interlocking his fingers. His eyes stayed fixed on the pictures. They would be his reminders, and his motivation, as he expended every ounce of energy in his soul to get justice for his brother.

To be continued….