The heartbreaking story of Susan Maxwell sheds light on the dark and tragic deeds of serial killer Robert Black. Black, who passed away in prison in 2016, was convicted of murdering four young girls, yet his reign of terror is believed to have extended to numerous other heinous crimes.
Susan Maxwell: A Life Cut Short
Susan Maxwell was a young child residing in the village of Cornhill-on-Tweed with her family. This village lies near the border between Scotland and England. On July 30, 1982, tragedy struck when eleven-year-old Susan was abducted. She disappeared from Coldstream, a Scottish town, while making her way home after a tennis game. Her lifeless body was later discovered 264 miles from her last known location.
Susan Maxwell (image via PA Wire)
The devastating truth revealed that her abductor had heartlessly discarded her body on the A518 near Uttoxeter.
Susan’s parents, Liz and Fordyce Maxwell, were left shattered by the loss of their daughter. Following the death of Robert Black in 2016, they issued a statement expressing their relief that he would never be released from prison. The statement conveyed their sentiments about Black’s fortunate death from natural causes, a fate they believed he did not deserve.
The Maxwells also acknowledged the immense pain brought upon them and other families by Black’s horrific actions. Their daughter Susan and other innocent victims faced terrifying circumstances at the hands of this ruthless killer. The Maxwells concluded their statement with a stark truth: Black’s passing would be mourned by no one.
The Painful Fate of Susan Maxwell
In 1982, Susan’s life was cut short when she disappeared while walking home from a tennis lesson. Her body was found dumped in undergrowth in Staffordshire. It was a tragic end marked by horror – she had been bound, gagged, and subjected to sexual assault by Robert Black before her lifeless form was discarded.
The investigation later unveiled the disturbing fact that Susan had been held captive in Black’s van for over 24 hours before he abandoned her body. Reports suggest that Black continued his deliveries across Scotland, carrying Susan’s body along with him. He later embarked on a journey to London, disposing of her remains along the way.
Black was eventually found guilty of Susan’s murder, along with the killings of two other young girls, Sarah Harper and Caroline Hogg, in May 1994. In 2011, he was convicted of the 1981 murder of Jennifer Cardy.
Robert Black’s reign of terror came to an end when he passed away from a heart attack in 2016 while serving 12 life terms in prison. Although he was linked to various other similar crimes, he was never formally charged with additional murders. Notably, he was on the brink of being charged with the 1978 killing of Genette Tate at the time of his death.
