1758. The Sunny Nook Strangler © Bruce Goodman 11 March 2020

The preferred method of murder was strangulation. That’s why the murderer was known as the Sunny Nook Strangler – because not only was strangulation the method used by the lunatic, but the victims had all been residents of the Sunny Nook Rest Home. Of course, none of the deaths had occurred at the rest home itself. But the fact that all victims lived at the same address was a relevant observation made by the police. Mrs Connie Fergus, a resident, tried to rally the mood of the other residents by organizing afternoon teas in the community lounge. “Things are always easier when we support one another,” she said. And indeed that is true. No one knew exactly what the instrument was that those murdered were strangled with. The wound on the neck wasn’t violent enough to be a rough rope. It was perhaps something softer, such as a bed sheet or even a table cloth. There was only one witness and she was of little help. Old Mrs Annie McKeefry had escaped the clutches of the Sunny Nook Strangler. She simply had been strolling down to the shops one sunshine afternoon and the next thing she was in the grips of the murderer. She felt something around her neck pull tight. That was when someone appeared on the scene and the murderer took off at the rate of knots. Unfortunately Mrs McKeefry had nothing to report other than she was attacked. It was now getting on for two weeks since the last strangulation. People started to feel almost a relief. Mrs Connie Fergus organized what she hoped would be the last morale-boosting afternoon tea in the home’s community lounge. “It’s to celebrate the possible end of the Sunny Nook Strangler,” said Mrs Connie Fergus. It was then that Mrs McKeefry noticed something that jolted her memory; Mrs Fergus was wearing a long, beautiful silk scarf. Contact Author Back to Still More Stories Index Next Story Previous Story