Britain’s Murder Map, fronted by Vicky McClure, advances a theory that George Puttock, who died in 2022, may have been responsible for his wife Helen’s death.
A TV true crime show has sparked a backlash after claiming Bible John victim Helen Puttock could have been killed by her own husband – despite him being ruled out decades ago.
The programme, Britain’s Murder Map, fronted by Line of Duty star Vicky McClure, advances a theory that George Puttock, who died in 2022, may have been responsible for his wife’s death.
Helen’s son David Puttock has hit out at the claims and confirmed he is seeking legal advice over the “slur”.
David, who lives in Canada, said: “My dad was investigated and ruled out. That’s not opinion, that’s fact.
“They’ve taken a man who can’t defend himself and turned him into a suspect for the sake of a TV programme.
“It’s not just wrong, it’s cruel.”
He added: “This isn’t some theory in a book or something said online.
“This has gone out on television to a huge audience, and it names my dad as a possible killer. That has consequences.”
Helen Puttock, 29, was the final known victim of the Bible John murders after a night at Glasgow’s Barrowland Ballroom in October 1969.
She had been out with her sister, Jean Langford, when they met a well-dressed man who called himself “John”.
Witnesses said he spoke about religion, quoted from the Bible and did not drink alcohol.
The three shared a taxi part of the journey home. Jean was dropped off first. Helen remained in the cab with the man.
She was found dead hours later near her home in Scotstoun. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled.
Her murder followed the killings of Patricia Docker in 1968 and Jemima McDonald in 1969. Both women had also been to the Barrowland Ballroom in the hours before their deaths.
Detectives linked all three murders and launched one of the biggest investigations Scotland had ever seen. Hundreds of men were interviewed and thousands of statements taken.
Despite that, the man known as Bible John was never identified.
George, Helen’s husband, was among those spoken to during the inquiry. He did not match witness descriptions of the man seen with Helen that night.
He was later eliminated through forensic examination.
David added: “Police looked at my dad in detail. They had every opportunity to pursue him if there was anything there. They didn’t, because there was nothing to pursue. People forget this wasn’t a casual check. This was a full murder investigation.
“My dad was her husband. Of course he was going to be looked at.
“And he was ruled out.”
The programme, which is also presented by McClure’s real-life husband, Jonny Owen, claims new analysis of behaviour and background points back inside Helen’s home.
David said he rejected their suggestions and added: “They’re ignoring the actual evidence and replacing it with speculation. They’re taking something that was settled and reopening it without anything new. That’s not an investigation. That’s storytelling.”
Criminologist Professor David Wilson said the case continues to attract new theories, often without evidential support.
He said: “One of the tragedies about the ‘Bible John’ case is that it has now become a mini industry.
“That industry is kept alive by people suggesting new hypotheses — new ‘takes’ — on what happened.
“One of those hypotheses is that Helen Puttock died as a result of domestic violence. In other words, she was killed by her husband George.
“There is no evidence to support that suggestion whatsoever.
“More importantly, the detectives who originally investigated the case — many of whom I interviewed at length — were adamant that the three women who were murdered were killed by the same man whom we know as ‘Bible John’.”
The Bible John murders remain one of Scotland’s most notorious unsolved cases.
The killer is believed to have targeted young women leaving the Barrowland Ballroom, gaining their trust before attacking them.
Descriptions given by witnesses, including Jean Langford, led to a photofit image that has been widely circulated for decades.
Despite advances in forensic science, including DNA profiling, the case has never been conclusively solved.
David said: “We’ve lived with this for more than 50 years. We’ve lived with not knowing who killed my mum. That’s hard enough without having my dad dragged into it again. There are real people behind this. My family has had to deal with this our whole lives. To see it presented like this, as if it’s just another angle, is incredibly difficult.”
David confirmed he is now seeking legal advice over the claims made in the programme.
He said: “I’m not prepared to just let this pass. There has to be some responsibility when you put something like this out there. You can’t just name someone as a killer and walk away.”
The programme has reignited debate around the case, which has been the subject of numerous books, documentaries and investigations over the years.
Police have previously said they remain open to new evidence in relation to the murders.
David said: “Everyone wants answers. We want answers more than anyone. But it has to be based on evidence. Not on speculation about my dad just because he is no longer here.”
Two Rivers Media, who made the programme, and Sky History Channel were contacted for comment.
A spokeswoman for Two Rivers Media said: “The programme Britain’s Murder Map examines historical cases and was produced in line with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code and all relevant legal requirements. Its purpose is to explore unresolved cases and consider alternative interpretations of the available evidence, rather than to assert definitive conclusions.
“In this instance, the theory referenced was presented as the view of a contributor and clearly framed as speculative, with appropriate language used throughout to ensure it was not understood as fact.
“The programme also included important context, noting that no forensic evidence was found, that George Puttock was never arrested, and that he had been previously eliminated from police enquiries.
“In line with our obligations, the adult son of Helen Puttock was contacted in advance of broadcast and made aware of the programme.
“We remain committed to responsible programme-making and are satisfied that the content was presented fairly, with appropriate context and in compliance with Ofcom guidelines.”
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