Detective who first used DNA to catch killer dies

6 days ago

Greig WatsonEast Midlands

David Baker said Pitchfork was a psychopath and should never be released

BBC David Baker, pictured in 2021, sat at home, looking at the camera — David Baker said Pitchfork was a psychopath and should never be released

The detective who led the hunt for rapist and murderer Colin Pitchfork - the first killer to be trapped by DNA - has died.

Pitchfork murdered Lynda Mann in Narborough in November 1983 and Dawn Ashworth in Enderby in July 1986, and was jailed for life in 1988.

David Baker, who died last week at 90, led the team which used the emerging science of DNA testing to screen a number of men from the area around the murders.

Leicestershire Police's chief constable, David Sandall, said: "His legacy has and will continue for generations of police officers to come."

Pitchfork admitted killing Dawn Ashworth and Lynda Mann when confronted with DNA evidence

Archive images of Dawn Ashworth and Lynda Mann — Pitchfork admitted killing Dawn Ashworth and Lynda Mann when confronted with DNA evidence

After hearing about the work of University of Leicester geneticist Alec Jeffreys in paternity cases, Baker approached him to check samples from a teenager suspected of the two murders.

The test cleared the teenager but prompted police to start a voluntary testing programme for young men in the vicinity.

When it emerged a work colleague had been paid to take the test for him, Pitchfork was arrested and DNA proved he was the killer.

Speaking in 2021, Baker said: "He admitted the offences straight away, but he didn't show any remorse whatsoever.

"The majority of people are remorseful when they are caught.

"He's got to be a psychopath."

In a "policing revolution", hundreds of men with links to the area were screened using DNA testing

Getty Images Archive shot of men sat at desks, being interviewed by police as part of the police investigation — In a "policing revolution", hundreds of men with links to the area were screened using DNA testing

Baker gave the interview after Pitchfork had been recalled to prison after breaching his bail conditions.

"I don't think he should ever be released," he said.

"I expected he would breach his parole once they let him out, because he is in the environment again where he's meeting people.

"Of course young girls and young women are available to him, and that's exactly what's happened."

Paying tribute, Sandall said: "David will forever be a part of our Leicestershire policing family, working his way up to detective chief superintendent and of course being the lead detective in the first criminal case to be solved using DNA fingerprinting - the start of a revolution in policing.

"This work saw him recognised in a number of ways, including a Queen's Policing Medal. His legacy has and will continue for generations of police officers to come.

"We thank David for his decades of service and for the most professional and determined policing work he did throughout this time.

"Our thoughts and our condolences are very much with David's family and his friends."

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