On January 17, 2004, a plastic barrel was found at the bottom of Beachy Head cliffs near Eastbourne, England. Inside was the body of a man who had been bound, gagged and stabbed.

It took six weeks for investigators to identify the man as 39-year-old Orville Donovan Gordon.

Orville Donovan Gordon came to the UK on a tourist visa in 2001. He was later joined by his girlfriend and they lived together in London.

It is thought that Gordon got involved with a group of men responsible for multiple robberies in the Brixton area. He was known by street names including Skara and Scaramouche.

Gordon’s body was found with his hands and feet bound, a plastic bag over his head and he had been slashed across the face and stabbed with a screwdriver. His body was then placed in a blue plastic barrel and rolled off the cliff at Beachy Head. A police inquest revealed he died from a stab wound to the back that went through his kidney.

It is alleged that Gordon was involved in a robbery at a takeaway in Brixton called Hellshire ChatBout Jamaican Best Food Takeaway. This robbery was not reported to the police.

It is assumed that Gordon returned to the takeaway at a later date and was recognised.

A search warrant was executed at the Hellshire ChatBout takeaway, which at the time was disused, and police found large quantities of Gordon’s blood. It is believed this is where he was murdered. 

Detective Chief Inspector Tony O’Donnell said: 

“I am pleased that we have finally identified this poor man. He met his death in tragic circumstances and I hope with this recent breakthrough we will be able to bring his killers to justice.

“From our enquiries in the Brixton area it is clear that a number of people know what happened in this case but are unwilling to talk to police. I would urge these people to reconsider and come forward and help us.”

Shortly after Orville Donovan Gordon’s body was found, six suspects were identified. Three of these were arrested, questioned and later released without charge. A further three fled to Jamaica and thus had not been interviewed.

Anyone with information should call 0845 6070999 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or online.

Sources:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4166487.stm

https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/6708281.barrel-victims-crime-links-led-to-murder

https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/body-in-barrel-man-named-6948338.html

http://www.unsolved-murders.co.uk/murder-content.php?key=4245&termRef=Orville%20Donovan%20Gordon