John Greenwood And Gary Miller: Murder Case Of Two 11-Year-Old Best Friends Reopened 36 Years After They Were Found Beaten And Buried Alive


After 36 years, Merseyside police have reopened an investigation into the murders of two 11-year-old best friends, John Greenwood and Gary Miller, who were found beaten and buried alive, according to the International Business Times UK.

On the evening of Saturday, August 16, 1980, Greenwood and Miller – both of Whiston, Merseyside – went missing after they went outside to play and never returned.

Not long after their disappearance, a man – whose name has not been released – walking his dog discovered their badly beaten bodies underneath an old mattress in Pottery Lane, which is now Stadt Moers Park, and immediately alerted police.

When Merseyside police arrived at the scene, Greenwood and Miller were still alive, but after being transported to a local hospital for head injuries, according to a post-mortem examination, they succumbed to their injuries.

Investigators believe the boys’ killer banged their heads on the ground, which led to Greenwood and Miller suffering fractured skulls and never regaining consciousness.

It was reported that John Cheeseman, who was a milkman in his 20s with a mental disability, later confessed to the murders of Greenwood and Miller, but he was found not guilty in 1981 because his confession had not been witnessed by a lawyer or guardian.

Cheeseman’s lawyer stated that he “should have had a solicitor or guardian present when he was interviewed by police.”

No other person has been charged in connection to the Merseyside 1980 murders.

In a Facebook post, Marie Rea wrote that she “often wondered why no one was convicted for the murders. It happened close to where I lived and as I had young boys near the same age — it terrified me.”

“This day and age they have cold case files solved through forensic evidence so hopefully for the sake of the families it will be resolved.”

Greenwood’s sister, Deborah Lewis, 38, stated that “losing the boys in such a horrific way was devastating for both families and has been heartbreaking to cope with.”

“The fact that no one has been convicted for their murders has made it so much harder. For 36 years we have lived with the frustration and the fear that we could be sitting next to their killer on a bus, or walking past them on the street.

“The murder of a child in a family causes so much pain to everyone, the very least we deserve is to find the evil person that did this and put them behind bars.”

“Both the Greenwoods and the Millers are united in their fight for justice and we are supported by family and friends and local people,” Lewis added.

In a Facebook post, Donna Madge wrote the following.

“It’s time to raise awareness and remind everybody of what happened. It’s time for justice for Debbie, David, and family and full accountability for those involved.

“I was a little girl and I still remember my mom, Maria Greaves, dragging me home terrified from Whiston Willis School and then not being allowed to play out for weeks.”

Now that Merseyside police have reopened the 1980 murder case, they are hoping to speak to anyone who may have seen a man with three young boys, aged between 12 and 14 years, near the church hall on Dragon Lane, Whiston.

Investigator Paul Richardson stated that “two of the boys who were seen with the man were stood on the wall of the church hall and one was on the grounds of the church hall.”

“Were you one of the three boys? If so, please come forward and talk to us.”

A Facebook page called Justice for John and Gary, which has garnered over 3,000 members, was recently created to support the police and family in seeking justice for the Merseyside boys.

[Featured Image By Deborah Jane Greenwood/Facebook]

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