Cam Gazette

SCARLETT DRAYTON
Reporter

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Reopened Inquest Reveals Shocking Truth in 1984 Wootton-on-the-Cam Forest Death

The quiet commuter town of Wootton-on-the-Cam has been shaken this week by the findings of a reopened inquest into the death of civil servant Kenny Goldsmith, nearly four decades after his body was first discovered.

Goldsmith, 32, from Stevenage, was found dead in woodland near Wootton-on-the-Cam in March 1984. At the time, his death was attributed to a tragic accident. But new testimony and fresh evidence now reveal he was the victim of a brutal murder.

Goldsmith, who worked at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) in London, is now believed to have been attacked by local farmer Alex Matheson. Investigators suggest Goldsmith was first assaulted on Matheson’s farm, then dragged into the woods where he was tied to a tree and strangled with a rope. Forensic detail from the original postmortem, long overlooked, also indicated head injuries consistent with a blunt force strike.

The breakthrough came after an independent investigation by local podcasters- Gemma Kingsley and Marie Coulson, who uncovered documents, interviews, and testimony pointing to Matheson’s involvement. Their findings persuaded authorities to reopen the inquest earlier this month. 

During proceedings, Matheson’s later death in 2021 from vCJD was offered in his defence, but the jury returned a verdict of murder, concluding that Goldsmith had not died accidentally.

“This is an incredibly tragic case,” said Cam Gazette editor Scarlett Drayton. “It’s hard to believe such violence took place in our community — especially against a man who had dedicated his life to public service.”

The verdict has left the town reeling, though many residents say they are relieved that long-awaited justice has finally been served.

Goldsmith’s surviving relatives described the outcome as “painful but necessary,” bringing some closure after years of uncertainty.

The Cam Gazette will continue to follow developments in this extraordinary case.