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The Murder of Milly Dowler — Part 1
The tragic abduction, rape, and murder of a young girl by the only British serial killer to be serving two life sentences.
On March 21, 2002, 13-year old Amanda Jane Dowler (known to her friends and family as “Milly”) disappeared on her way home. After a massive nationwide search, her remains were found on September 18, 2002, in a wooded area 25 miles from her hometown in the county of Surrey, England. Serial killer Levi Bellfield, who was already serving a life sentence for two murders and attempted murder, was eventually convicted of abducting and killing Milly.
Disappearance
At 3:07 pm on March 21, 2002, Milly left school with a girlfriend and caught the train to go home. The girls got off one stop before Milly’s usual stop to eat at a café. At 3:47 pm, Milly called her father to say that she would be home shortly. The girls left the café at 4:05 pm. Three minutes later, a friend of Milly’s sister who was waiting at a bus stop saw Milly walking alone. She was the last person to see Milly alive.
When Milly didn’t come home as promised, her family immediately sensed that something was terribly wrong. Her parents reported her missing to the police at 7:00 pm. Over 100 police officers conducted an extensive search, and helicopters combed the surrounding area. Milly’s disappearance dominated the news, and British television show Crimewatch UK even did a reconstruction in hopes of solving the case. Despite these efforts, including a £100,000 reward by tabloid newspaper The Sun, Milly remained missing. In June 2002, the police told her parents that Milly was probably dead.
Discovery and investigation
By all accounts, Milly was a vivacious and happy girl whose family was loving and close-knit. Nevertheless, Milly’s mother held out hope that Milly had run away, although deep down, she knew this was unlikely. Her hope was crushed, and her worst nightmare realized when, on September 18, 2002, a middle-aged couple going for a walk in the woods found Milly’s naked remains…
