True Crime Friday: Trevor Joseph Hardy, The Monster of Manchester Serial Killer

Trevor Joseph Hardy was born June 11, 1945. He is known as the Monster of Manchester because he brutally assaulted his victims before murdering them. Truth is he is known by different monikers such as the Beast of Manchester, The Hidden Serial Killer and the Monster of Manchester. Trevor Hardy murdered three teenage girls in the city of Manchester England. He was active in Manchester between the years of 1974 through 1976. There has been speculation that Hardy was not detected right away because of the Yorkshire Ripper Serial Killer aka Peter Sutcliffe. Hardy and Sutcliffe were operating around the same time as serial killers. He was caught in 1977 and was found guilty on three charges of murder and was sentenced to life in prison with a full tariff meaning he would never be paroled.

The Early Childhood of Trevor Hardy

Trevor Hardy grew up in a middle class family. There is a history of abuse and/or neglect and delinquent behavior at a very young age. He had violent tendencies and would lash out at family and friends. He killed animals for pleasure and would brag about this sick behavior to anyone that would listen. He also bullied his classmates at school. His family especially, his younger brother were terrified of him and for good reasons.

The Victims of Trevor Hardy

• Janet Lesley Stewart, 15
• Wanda Skala, 17
• Sharon Mosoph, 17

The Survivors of Trevor Hardy

• Colin Hardy, Brother
• Sheilagh Farrow, Partner

Trevor Hardy mutilated his victims after defiling their bodies. At the height of the hunt for this serial killer, twenty three thousand people were stopped and searched by authorities. Hardy has a low victim count but that does not mean he was any less evil than those with high body counts. It is widely speculated that he killed more than the three victims. If his brother had not turned him in Trevor Hardy would not have been on the police radar. He confused the police with the way the murders were committed. He did not have a methodology.

When he bragged to his younger brother about the murder of Wanda Skala the brother went to the police and Trevor was arrested. He was later let go after his partner gave him a false alibi because she was in an abusive relationship with him. There was a bite mark left on the victim’s body. The bite mark did not match Hardy’s because unbeknownst to the police Hardy had his teeth filed down. Once he was freed from jail he went to his brother’s house and assaulted him for turning him in to the authorities.

Within six months of being freed Hardy was arrested for the murder of Wanda Skala and Sharon Mosoph. Hardy confessed to other murders to his partner when he had previously been paroled. He assaulted a man with a pick axe. He had confused one of his victims with a girl he had a crush on who had rejected him. After the attack, he took her ring and gave it to another woman as a token of love. Hardy had also kept Skala's blood-stained clothes and her handbag as a trophies.

Lady Justice

Trevor Hardy was served three life sentences for the murders with a minimum of 30 years. He maintained his innocence and reportedly sent a letter to Mosoph's relatives blaming his parents. Hardy was later issued a whole life tariff which in England means he would never be paroled. He died in prison on September 25, 2012 of a heart attack.

Reference

Wikipedia - Trevor Hardy
When serial killers go unseen: The case of Trevor Joseph Hardy
Trevor Hardy : Britain's Forgotten Serial Killer
Trevor Hardy: The Forgotten Serial Killer of Manchester