LONDON — Ryland Headley, 92, was convicted on Monday for the 1967 rape and murder of 75-year-old Louisa Dunne, marking one of the UK’s longest-running cold cases to be solved.

Dunne was found strangled in her Bristol home nearly six decades ago. A left-hand palm print at the scene led nowhere at the time, as Headley lived just outside the area where prints were collected. The case remained unsolved until 2023, when police reopened it and matched DNA and the palm print to Headley.

At the time of the crime, Headley was a railway worker. He had previously served time for raping two elderly women in 1977.

Headley was arrested in November 2023, and during questioning claimed to have no knowledge of the crime. He now awaits sentencing.

Police are now investigating whether Headley is connected to more cold cases, given his history. Dunne’s granddaughter expressed relief at the long-overdue justice, saying the crime deeply impacted her family.