Case 147
Julie Dart & Stephanie Slater
On July 10 1991, 18-year-old Julie Dart disappeared after a night out in Leeds. Two days later, her boyfriend Dominic Murray received a letter from Julie that read: “Help me, please. I’ve been kidnapped and I’m being held as personal security… Please go and tell my mum straight away.” The following week, a group of farmers working in a field alongside an abandoned railway line come across Julie’s decomposing body.
What follows is a series of bizarre extortion attempts that lead police on a wild goose chase. Months later, when 25-year-old real estate agent Stephanie Slater goes missing, police realise they’re dealing with a serial offender. It’s a race against the clock as they desperately try to find Stephanie and save her from a similar fate to Julie.
CREDITS
EPISODE:
Research & writing – Erin Munro
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Narration – Anonymous Host
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro – www.dl-sounds.com
Audio production – Mike Migas
Scoring – Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo and website design – Paulina Szymanska
RESOURCES
BOOKS:
Beyond Fear: My Will to Survive – Stephanie Slater with Pat Lancaster
Murder with Menaces: The Story of Michael Sams, Julie Dart and Stephanie Slater – Rod Chaytor
DOCUMENTARIES:
The Kidnapping of Stephanie Slater
RADIO:
One to One interview with Stephanie Slater – BBC, September 10 2013.
ARTICLES:
Killer plays out game with police – The Guardian, December 27 1991
Letter prompts police to warn prostitutes of ‘new Ripper – The Guardian, August 23 1991
Artist’s impression of kidnapper brings rapid response – The Guardian, February 5 1992
Kidnapper writes to deny murder – The Guardian, February 7 1992
New sketch clue to kidnapper – The Guardian, February 8 1992
Kidnap victim returns home ‘glad it’s all over’ – The Guardian, February 10 1992
I shed tears for Stephanie says kidnapper – The Observer, February 16 1992
Voices clue to ‘warehouse’ where estate agent was held – The Guardian, February 21 1992
Man, 50, charged with kidnap of estate agent – The Guardian, February 24 1992
Remand in Dart murder case – The Guardian, February 28 1992
Woman ‘killed in bid for perfect crime’ – The Guardian, June 10 1993
Kidnapper’s diary tells of elaborate plans – The Guardian, June 11 1993
Builder’s chat ‘foiled kidnap’ – The Guardian, June 12 1993
Kidnapped estate agent considered suicide in ‘coffin’ cell – The Guardian, June 18 1993
Panic and fear of ransom courier – The Guardian, June 19 1993
Prostitute ‘beaten to death with hammer to escape sex abuse – The Guardian, June 23 1993
Kidnapper tells court his friend killed Julie Dart – The Guardian, July 2 1993
Sams refuses to name killer – The Guardian, July 3 1993
Rope used to truss prostitute’s body belonged to accused – The Guardian, July 6 1993
Police recall ‘nasty piece of work’ with the constant smile – The Herald, July 9 1993
The Michael Sams Trial: Train spotter’s obsession left chain of clues – Independent, July 9 1993
Murderer of Julie Dart gets four life sentences – The Guardian, July 9 1993
Sams admits killing teenager Julie Dart – The Guardian, July 13 1993
Killers tell all for fame or parole: Michael Sams’s post-trial confession was to show he was ‘not brutal’, but motives of others vary – Independent, July 14 1993
Sams tells of doomed Julie – The Guardian, August 18 1993
Too easy’ regime at jail where Sams attacked probation officer – The Guardian, October 25 1995
Give me back my daughter – The Guardian, November 13 1995
Sams receives further 8 years for cell attack – The Telegraph, February 13 1997
Sams guilty in hostage ‘protest’ – The Guardian, February 14 1997
Jail life better for pensioners – BBC News, April 18 2007
From the Archives: Sams played a deadly game with detectives – Birmingham Live, April 13 2011
From the Archives: What happened to Suzy Lamplugh? – Birmingham Live, April 27 2011
Stephanie Slater, estate agent kidnapped in 1992, dies aged 50 – The Guardian, September 1 2017
Kidnap victim Stephanie Slater dies following cancer battle – ITV News, September 1 2017
She never escaped – The Sun, September 1 2017
VW Camper Van tribute at funeral of kidnap victim Stephanie Slater – County Press, September 15 2017
Savage woman-hater Michael Sams abducted estate agent Stephanie Slater and murdered Julie Dart but was caught when his first wife recognised his voice on Crimewatch – Mirror, March 13 2018
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