She was running late because she hadn't been able to find her trainers and at the bus stop she sent an image of her feet to friends via Snapchat, complaining that she was feeling cold. McLeod was 1.57 metres (5ft 2in) tall, slightly built and could easily have been mistaken for someone several years her junior. Even if she had spotted Cody Ackland sneak up behind her at the bus stop, she probably would not have stood much of a chance against his savage attack.
Ackland was strong, determined and organised. In the months, possibly years, leading up to this point he had researched the tactics used by the American serial killer Ted Bundy, whose modus operandi was to approach a victim in a public place, render her unconscious and take her to a second place before killing her.
Ackland, 24, struck McLeod on the head with a claw hammer. Their eyes, he has claimed, briefly met and the teenager fell to the ground. He bundled her into the footwell of his car and drove 19 miles to a car park at a forest on Dartmoor. There he carried out a frenzied hammer attack, causing "catastrophic" injuries. Police cannot be sure but they believe she died there.
Esta historia es de la edición May 20, 2022 de The Guardian.
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