The Unsolved 1988 Murder of Percy Francis: Help Us Bring Justice to a Gentle Rushden Pensioner

The Unsolved Murder of Percy Francis: Rushden’s Quiet Tragedy

In the fading days of the summer of 1988, the small English market town of Rushden, Northamptonshire was a place defined by stillness, trust, and familiarity. Neighbours greeted one another on morning walks, church bells rolled softly across the fields, and doors were left unlocked without a second thought.

But inside one quiet bungalow on Upper Park Avenue, that sense of safety was shattered forever.

On 2 August 1988, 71-year-old Percy Francis, a gentle, private pensioner, was found brutally murdered in his home. More than 37 years later, no one knows who killed him—or why.

Our charity aims to change that.

A Quiet Man Lost to Unthinkable Violence

Percy was known as a soft-spoken, polite man who kept to himself after retiring. He lived alone at 3 Upper Park Avenue, following predictable routines—daily walks, shopping trips, and friendly nods to neighbours. He wasn’t wealthy and had no known enemies, debts, or disputes. He was simply a quiet man living a quiet life.

And yet, sometime in late July or early August 1988, someone entered his home and took that life from him in a way that shocked the entire community.

Percy was discovered after a neighbour grew worried. His curtains were still drawn; milk bottles sat untouched outside his door. When police entered, they found Percy lying on the floor, having suffered severe head and chest injuries caused by both stabbing and blunt-force trauma.

There were:

• No signs of forced entry

• No obvious theft

• No struggle visible outside the room

Police concluded he had let his killer in willingly.

The person who murdered Percy was likely someone he trusted.

The Mysterious Visitor Known Only as “Mac”

As investigators traced Percy’s final days, one name repeatedly surfaced:“Mac.”

Neighbours reported that Percy mentioned a man who had visited his bungalow shortly before the murder—someone said to have come to cut Percy’s hair. A friendly, seemingly harmless gesture.

But after Percy’s death, “Mac” disappeared completely.

Police searched barbershops, canvassed the neighbourhood, and checked local records. No one matched the description. No one admitted to knowing him.

Some believe “Mac” was the killer. Others suspect “Mac” may never have been his real name. No one truly knows.

A Case Left Cold by Time and Technology

Detective Superintendent David Johnson led the original investigation. Officers searched drains—where a knife was reportedly recovered—interviewed dozens of witnesses, and collected forensic evidence.

But in 1988, the tools available were limited:

• No DNA profiling

• No national DNA database

• Minimal fingerprint matching

• No digital surveillance

• No modern forensic reconstruction

Despite exhaustive early efforts, the case stalled. Leads dried up. Witnesses moved away. Forensic opportunities were frozen in time, waiting for the world to catch up.

The murder of Percy Francis eventually slipped into Northamptonshire Police’s cold case archives—unresolved, unanswered, and largely forgotten by the public.

Why We Must Not Let Percy Be Forgotten

Percy Francis was a real man. A neighbour. A friend. A human being whose life was stolen.

He deserves answers. His community deserves closure. And someone, somewhere, still knows something.

Even the smallest detail—a name, a rumour, a forgotten memory—could unlock what modern forensic science might now be able to confirm.

Today’s technology has solved cases far older than Percy’s. With DNA advancements, refined fingerprint recovery, and modern investigative techniques, this case can be solved.

But only if people step forward.

We Need Your Help: Information, Memories, DNA, and Records

Our charity is committed to shining a light on forgotten victims like Percy Francis. We are working to:

• Raise awareness of unsolved murders

• Encourage new witnesses or family members to come forward

• Push for modern forensic reviews—including DNA where available

• Support families who have lived for decades without answers

But we cannot do it alone.

Help Bring Justice for Percy Francis

If you have ANY information—no matter how small, uncertain, or long ago—please come forward. Even a detail that feels insignificant may be the missing piece.

You can contact:

• Northamptonshire Police

• Crimestoppers (anonymous)

• Our charity, if you prefer confidential support in making a report

Someone knows who killed Percy. Someone knows who “Mac” really was. Someone has seen, heard, or remembered something that can finally bring truth into the light.

Percy Francis deserves justice. Not for the brutality of his death, but for the life that was taken from him.

Help us give him the dignity of answers. Help us bring closure to a story that should never have been forgotten.

This is not just history. This is a life. The truth is still out there.

It is Time 4 Justice, Time for Truth!