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Murder investigator's chilling realisation after meeting real killer

Karen Thomas, a detective constable investigating the murder of Joanna Yeates, has shared that she never thought Christopher Jefferies had a motive after he was wrongfully arrested, revealing the moment she knew the killer was Vincent Tabak instead.

One of the police officers investigating the murder of Joanna Yeates has said that she never thought there was a motive for Christopher Jefferies, who was wrongfully arrested for her death. Jefferies, who was then 65, was arrested on suspicion of murdering Yeates, 25, on December 30, 2010.

Over 15 years later, Karen Thomas, a detective constable involved in the investigation, has recalled what she thought at the time - of Jefferies, the real killer Tabak, and of how her bosses reacted when she brought her suspicions to them.

Speaking in Disneys new docuseries, Britains Most Notorious Crime Investigations, Thomas shared that she didnt think Jefferies had a reason to kill Yeates, but could see why her colleagues were insistent that he had.

I never thought there was a motive for Christopher Jefferies to kill Jo, she said. Having said that, weve sat with many people in custody who we thought maybe were the wrong people and were the right people, so as long as there was a reason to keep him in custody, it was justified.

[Karen Thomas]

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Detective constable Karen Thomas spoke about the case years on

[Christopher Jefferies]

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She said: 'I never thought there was a motive for Christopher Jefferies to kill Jo'

Jefferies was arrested just five days after Yeates body was discovered in Failand, Somerset, and 13 after she was first reported missing. The primary evidence against him was a speck of blood on one of his trainers, which police later discovered did not match Yeates DNA.

While he was in custody, Thomas was sent to Holland to take the witness statement of Vincent Tabak, Yeates neighbour, who claimed Jefferies had moved his car around the time that she went missing.

Thomas explained that Tabaks statement troubled her. He claimed he had driven to an Asda in Bedminster for crisps and beer, even though there was a Tesco down the road. He asked questions about DNA and said he had knocked on Yeates door, despite having never offered that information before.

The detective said it seemed like Tabak was trying to stitch up the man they had in custody. Inside, my heart was going ten to the dozen. I was sitting there thinking this could be our guy, this could be our killer.

[Joanna Yeates]

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Joanna Yeates went missing in 2010(Image: PA)

[20/20: Britains Most Notorious Crime Investigations]

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Disney+ is airing 20/20: Britains Most Notorious Crime Investigations

After flying back to the UK, Thomas took the statement straight to her bosses. She said: "In fairness, there was a lot coming from a lot of different angles and hes trying to keep everything going, so I said Boss, if you do nothing else, please prioritise his DNA.

But she later implied that she did think there was an issue with the investigation: We took longer than we should have to catch Vincent Tabak. I think theres always a danger that an officer can become fixated on a suspect and want the evidence to fit that.

Tabaks DNA was a match for the samples found on Yeates body. Jefferies was released two days after his arrest, and Tabak was taken into custody on 20 January.

He eventually pleaded guilty to manslaughter, saying he strangled Yeates whilst trying to silence her when she screamed after he tried to kiss her. He was found guilty of her murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.

20/20: Britains Most Notorious Crime Investigations is available on Disney+ now.

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