An 87-year-old man arrested in connection with one of Wales' most notorious unsolved killings has been released without further action, South Wales Police confirmed. The suspect, detained in December as part of a forensic review of the cold case, is no longer under investigation.
Harry and Megan Tooze, a retired fruit wholesaler aged 64 and his wife aged 67, were discovered with fatal shotgun wounds in a cow shed at their farm in Llanharry, Rhondda Cynon Taf, on 26 July 1993. The couple had been shot in the back of the head from approximately 3 feet away, then concealed beneath hay bales and covered with carpet, according to detectives' findings.
The investigation began when their daughter Cheryl could not reach her parents by telephone that evening and raised the alarm. Officers attending the property found both bodies in the cow shed. Investigators determined the couple had not been killed at that location but had been moved there after their deaths.
How did the murders unfold?
On the morning of 26 July 1993, Harry and Megan left their farm at Tŷ Ar y Waun to visit a local supermarket in Talbot Green, stopping to collect their pensions on the return journey. Neighbours observed them arriving home at 11:00. Approximately two and a half hours later, at about 13:30, two gunshots were heard in the vicinity, though this attracted little attention given the rural farming setting.
The couple's routine daily telephone contact with their daughter went unanswered that evening, prompting her to alert police. When officers arrived at the property, they discovered the bodies concealed in the cow shed.
What happened in the original investigation?
Jonathan Jones, a self-employed recruitment consultant and the boyfriend of the Toozes' daughter Cheryl, was arrested five months after the murders in December 1993. He was convicted of both murders and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1995. However, the Court of Appeal quashed his conviction in 1996 following concerns about the original trial and the handling of the crime scene by police.
Jones had maintained that he had taken the day off work and was in Orpington, Greater London, at the time of the killings. A partial thumbprint attributed to him was recovered from a cup and saucer found in the couple's living room. Despite his conviction, the appeal court judges required only five minutes to reach their decision to overturn it. The original trial judge faced criticism, and it emerged that police had failed to secure the crime scene adequately.
Cheryl Tooze stood by Jones throughout his legal proceedings, moving in with his family in Caerphilly following his arrest.
What is the current status of the investigation?
South Wales Police initiated a forensic review of the case in 2023 as part of its commitment to resolving the killings. The review, led by the Major Crime Investigation Team under the designation Operation Vega, continues to examine retained exhibits from the original crime scene for potential further forensic testing. Forensic scientist Dr Angela Gallop is working alongside police in this effort.
The arrest of the 87-year-old man in December represented a significant development in the long-dormant inquiry. However, following investigation, police determined there was insufficient evidence to proceed with charges, leading to his release without further action.
Police say the couple's next of kin are being supported and regularly updated on the inquiry's progress.
What happens next?
The forensic review remains active, with no further decision or timeline announced. Detective Superintendent Mark O'Shea stated that the force remained "committed to solving these dreadful murders" and appealed to anyone with information to come forward, as it "may help us get justice for the family". Those with information are encouraged to reference occurrence number 2300016841 when contacting police.
Key Facts
- Harry and Megan Tooze were killed on 26 July 1993 at their farm in Llanharry, shot in the back of the head and concealed in a cow shed
- Jonathan Jones was convicted of the murders in 1995 but released on appeal in 1996 after concerns about the trial and police handling of evidence
- An 87-year-old man arrested in December 2024 as part of a forensic review has been released without charge
- South Wales Police's Major Crime Investigation Team continues the review under Operation Vega, examining retained exhibits with forensic scientist Dr Angela Gallop
- The case remains unsolved after more than three decades
