37 Years Without Answers: Sister Renews Heartbreaking Plea to Solve Jeweller’s Unsolved Murder

Nearly four decades after a respected jeweller was shot dead in his own home, his family is still waiting for answers. Richard “Ricky” Haywood was just 36 when he was found murdered in his flat above Ambiance Jewellers in Southampton, England, on October 16, 1989. Now, on the 37th anniversary of his death, his sister Ann has renewed an emotional appeal for anyone who knows what happened to finally come forward.

Ricky was discovered slumped in his bathtub after being shot multiple times. Investigators have long believed the killing was a targeted attack rather than a random act of violence. Yet, despite years of inquiries, interviews and arrests, nobody has ever been charged with his murder. For those closest to him, the passage of time has done little to ease the grief — or the frustration of not knowing who was responsible and why he was killed.

According to reports, Ricky had been negotiating a deal involving a three-acre farm property near Southampton and was experiencing financial difficulties. Detectives have examined the circumstances surrounding his business dealings and personal life as they sought to establish a motive. However, no definitive explanation for the killing has been established publicly, and investigators continue to pursue leads that could help reconstruct the events leading up to his death.

In a statement marking the anniversary, Ann described the family’s decades-long struggle to live with the uncertainty. She said the pain of losing her brother had never gone away and that the family still did not know who had taken his life or why. While expressing gratitude for the officers who have continued working on the case, she made a direct appeal to anyone with information: the family needs the truth and the opportunity to find some measure of closure.

The investigation gained renewed momentum after detectives reopened the case in 2024. Officers from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary have reviewed thousands of reports and statements, identified fresh lines of inquiry and visited more than 300 people as part of their efforts. Police believe that even information that appeared insignificant at the time could now prove crucial. Investigators also suspect the person responsible may not have acted alone, raising the possibility that others have knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the murder.

A significant development came in July 2026, when police arrested a 55-year-old man from Southampton on suspicion of murder. The arrest raised hopes that the decades-old mystery might finally be approaching a breakthrough. However, the man was subsequently released without charge, and detectives have stressed that the investigation remains ongoing. The arrest has not resulted in anyone being formally charged with Ricky’s killing.

The case has also carried a painful legacy for Ricky’s mother, Phyllis, who reportedly went into hiding after his death because she feared the people responsible might target her as well. She offered thousands of pounds in hopes of obtaining information, but died without learning who had killed her son. Her family’s long search for answers has continued in the years since, with detectives exploring new forensic techniques and revisiting information gathered during earlier investigations. A £20,000 reward has also been offered through Crimestoppers for information leading to a conviction.

Senior investigating officer Elizabeth Brunt has urged anyone who knew Ricky, visited his jewellery shop or remembers something unusual from the period to contact police. Investigators believe the killer may have had help, meaning that people who were not directly involved could still hold information that could advance the case. Even a detail that seemed unimportant nearly four decades ago could now help detectives connect the remaining pieces of evidence.

For Ann and the rest of Ricky’s family, the appeal is about more than solving a historic crime. It is about finally learning what happened to a loved one whose life was cut short and allowing a family to move forward after 37 years of uncertainty. With the investigation still active, police are asking anyone with information to contact them on 101 and quote Operation Tango / 44080416574. Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. After so many years without answers, the hope remains that someone will come forward and help bring the truth to light.

Source: The Sun