Man’s haunting 999 call minutes after raping and murdering 12-year-old niece

But father-of-one Maden, 38, was a hidden paedophile who hoarded child pornography and ‘snuff videos’. When he enticed Tia to his property, he drugged her before enacting his twisted fantasies

It was 16 years ago today when the evil uncle of Tia Rigg rang the police to deliver one of the most bone-chilling murder confessions ever heard. Twelve-year-old Tia’s final day on earth was utterly horrific.

Her uncle, a jobless man named John Maden, phoned his sister Lynne Rigg at 2.14pm, requesting Tia come to his house in Cheetham Hill, Manchester, claiming he needed a babysitter. But father-of-one Maden, 38, was a hidden paedophile who hoarded child pornography and “snuff videos”. When he enticed Tia to his property, he drugged her before enacting his twisted fantasies.

Tia reached her uncle’s house shortly before 3pm and wicked Maden was calling the police merely 45 minutes afterwards. This followed the youngster being subjected to a series of vile sexual acts. During the attack, she was also knifed before a guitar string was used to throttle her, reports the Mirror.

He then contacted 999 and coldly informed the operator: “I’ve just finished killing her now.”

When asked his motive, he delivered a chilling five-word reply: “Because I felt like it.”

Two constables swiftly reached the scene where Maden led them upstairs – and what they found would forever torment them.

Tia, who had a ligature round her neck, was sprawled naked on the spare bedroom floor wearing only a pair of socks. Two bloodied knives lay beside her body and her hands were bound behind her back with shoelaces. It was later confirmed that the girl had been stabbed in the abdomen, with some of the wounds inflicted while she was still conscious.

Despite the significant blood loss, the “predominant” cause of death was ligature strangulation. Subsequent tests revealed the presence of the antipsychotic drug Olanzapine in her bloodstream, which would have had a sedative effect.

Maden was set to face a murder trial after his arrest and charge but ultimately entered a guilty plea.

Upon receiving a mandatory life sentence, Mr Justice Keith stated: “This is one of those exceptional cases in which the only just punishment requires you to be imprisoned for the rest of your life.”

Prior to this, Gordon Cole QC, the prosecutor, said: “It was murder purely for his sexual gratification – it had a sexual motive.

“The facts reveal clearly features of torture, rape, physical abuse and the ultimate murder of a child.

“In the year or so prior to April this year, the defendant had developed what can properly be described as an obsessive interest in images and literature relating to paedophilia, rape and torture.

“He had an extensive library of such materials which included literature dealing with methods of killing.”

After her brother was sentenced to life imprisonment, Tia’s devastated mum, Lynne, paid a heartrending tribute to her daughter.

She expressed: “Tia was my baby girl. She was always happy and never sad. She brought a smile to everyone who she met. Tia was loved by everyone, family and friends but to me she wasn’t just my daughter she was my best friend.

“When this nightmare happened, it killed me inside. My heart has been broken and will never mend. All that is left is a big empty hole. For me, this nightmare will never end but now justice has been done at least Tia can rest in peace.

“Tia was my whole world. I love her so much, she was my life. I miss her big smile every morning and her beautiful freckley face. She always laughed when I said that.

“Not a day goes by when I don’t think of her. I love and miss her so much and always will.”