Latest news with #EssexMillionaireMurders
Daily Record
28-04-2025
- Daily Record
Computer nut Luke D'Wit was 'nerdy weirdo' who 'played' with family's lives
A husband and wife were killed by a "nerdy weirdo", according to their daughter. Ellie Baxter said Like D'Wit had "played" with her family's lives. Computer game nut D'Wit killed Stephen and Carol Baxter at their home in West Mersea , Essex, and Ellie said she thinks her family was a "real-life version" for him. He held the remote control and "we were his little pieces to play with" she said. The Mirror reports D'Wit used fake identities to control their lives after 'caring' for them, and laced the couple's medication with an opioid painkiller. The computer science graduate lived with his mother in a small semi-detached home and locals knew him as a quiet man who volunteered at a soup kitchen and helped to organise the town carnival. However he had a more sinister motive when it came to 'caring' for the Baxter's, and was jailed for life with a minimum tariff of 37 years at Chelmsford Crown Court in March 2024. The story of unmasking the unassuming killer airs tonight in a two-part documentary ITV documentary, Essex Millionaire Murders. The documentary includes footage from the front door security camera as Ellie makes the harrowing discovery. Her heartbreaking screams as she's arrested for the crime . But in reality, it was D'Wit who was behind the killings. The relationship evolved when D'Wit started keeping Mrs Baxter company on walks and at the gym. He also helped her take medication and performed odd jobs and quickly became Carol's carer, something her daughter Ellie was extremely grateful for. When the couple were found dead in their home, police arrested Ellie , and took her and her brother Harry in for questioning. D'Wit had told police Carol took a lot of medication as she suffered with Hashimotos, a thyroid condition. He helped her with her condition, and sometimes she would forget how many times she had taken it. But as the investigation went on, it was found that the kind and helpful family friend had actually been playing mind games with the family. He invented fake online personas including doctors, giving dangerous medical diagnoses , and secretly filming the couple in their home before murdering them - all for his own sadistic pleasure. Upon his arrest, they began to uncover the extreme lengths D'Wit explored to control the Baxters. Police found 80 electronic devices at D'Wit's house, some of which had been used to create more than 20 false personas used for his manipulation. After analysis, it was found he was offering advice "with no clinical basis" while posing as Dr Bowden, prosecutors told the trial. This advice included taking smoothies that were rich in health benefits made by D'Wit, who Dr Bowden praised as a good friend. But instead, they were cocktails of drugs and potions which made her far more unwell than she already was. Carol was starting to experience serious fatigue and forgetfulness, and her doctors had no real diagnosis other than anxiety. The symptoms she was experiencing weren't typical of Hashimoto's , and they were the effects of her being slowly poisoned by D'Wit, who ensured Mrs Baxter kept him updated on her decline via video messages she sent to Dr Bowden. BBC reported that the police investigation uncovered an email sent by D'Wit to the couple on the morning of their deaths, detailing a "liver cleanse recipe" they should follow. It explained how the fatal dose of fentanyl had been administered into their bodies. D'Wit then watched them die between Good Friday and Easter Sunday in a video stream he set up from a phone hidden in their property. Essex Millionaire Murders aired tonight on ITV at 9pm.
Wales Online
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
ITV's The Essex Millionaire Murders: Full story behind Carol and Stephen Baxter's murder
ITV's The Essex Millionaire Murders: Full story behind Carol and Stephen Baxter's murder The Essex Millionaire Murders documents an investigation that remains one of the most complex cases ever undertaken by Essex Police Stephen Baxter, 61, and his 64-year-old wife Carol, who were found dead sitting in their individual armchairs in their conservatory on Easter Sunday in 2023 (Image: Family handout/PA ) A brand new ITV documentary is set to premiere on ITV this evening, April 28, and follows what is deemed on of Essex Police's most intricate investigations. The Essex Millionaire Murders, which includes two episodes, will be broadcast on Monday and Tuesday evenings (April 28 and 29). It will shed a light on the chilling events that happened on April 9, 2023 and what led to the discovery of a couple -Carol and Stephen Baxter, who were found dead in their home. The two-part documentary will include interviews from four officers from Essex Police, including Detective Inspector Lydia George, who took the helm as the senior investigating officer in the case. Following an extensive inquiry, Luke D'Wit - a familiar face to the Baxter family, was found guilty of their murder. But what exactly happened to the couple? Here's the full story behind Carol and Stephen Baxter's murder. What happened to Stephen and Carol Baxter? Wealthy couple Carol, 64, and 61-year-old Stephen Baxter were from Mersea Island, Essex. According to The Standard, they were known for their successful business and charitable contributions, and were regarded as respected members of their community. Article continues below According to the BBC, D'Wit was seen as the "pillar of the community" on the island, with his family ties going back for generations. It is believed he met the Baxters sometime around 2012 and 2013. D'Wit worked in IT and met the couple through his work as a freelance web designer when he helped create a website for Mrs Baxter's shower mat business, Cazsplash. The relationship between D'Wit and the Baxters evolved to the point where D'Wit would accompany Mrs Baxter to the gym and would help her take her medication. According to a family friend, who spoke to the BBC, "he was always there". His trial heard that he faked a cancer diagnosis to try and gain sympathy from the family during this time. D'Wit also took charge of Carol's medication, feigning assistance in treating her autoimmune condition, only for it to result in exacerbating her health issues. His trial heard that his deceit included fabricating multiple false identities, even impersonating a medical professional. On Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023, Carol and Stephen were tragically discovered dead in their Mersea Island home by their daughter. There were no visible injuries or clear cause of death, and it was only weeks later that a toxicology report revealed they had died from fentanyl poisoning. Luke D'Wit was found guilty of the double murder of Stephen and Carol Baxter (Image: Essex Police ) D'Wit was the last person to see them alive. Two days prior, on April 7, he had administered a lethal dose of fentanyl to the couple he had befriended, even setting up a camera inside their home to observe their demise. The BBC reports that a falsified will inside the Baxters' home named D'Wit as the director of Cazsplash, which ultimately led detectives to the killer. Upon D'Wit's arrest, police found several fentanyl patches, which D'Wit claimed belonged to his deceased father, but later said were his grandfather's. Officers also discovered a bag containing numerous metal tacks and pill casings, which they strongly suspect were previously given to Carol, leading to her hospitalisation after X-rays revealed the tacks in her stomach. In his testimony, D'Wit alleged that both he and Stephen were behind the fictitious personas, using these characters to make Carol believe she was receiving help for her health conditions. However, under cross-examination, his story unravelled as messages between the fictitious characters and Stephen Baxter were read out, indicating that there was no plausible way Stephen could have been part of D'Wit's scheme. D'Wit received a life sentence with a minimum term of 37 years behind bars, marking one of the longest sentences procured in the wake of an Essex Police investigation. In March 2024, post-sentencing, DI George branded D'Wit a "pathological liar", reports Surrey Live. ITV's documentary, The Essex Millionaire Murders, delves into D'Wit's insidious preying on and manipulation of the Baxter household in the time preceding the tragic event. Article continues below Viewers can watch the first episode of The Essex Millionaire Murders on ITV 1 at 9pm on Monday, April 28, with the second episode also aired on ITV 1 at 9pm on Tuesday evening, April 29.
Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Daily Mirror
Luke D'Wit controlled sick mum with strict rules before ordering lethal 'cleanse'
Double murderer Luke D'Wit was thought to be 'caring' for Stephen and Carol Baxter but instead was slowly poisoning the couple and giving them strict rules to 'get them better' Stephen and Carol Baxter were found dead in their home in West Mersea in Essex in 2023 by a "nerdy weird" killer who "played" with the family's lives. The couple's daughter Ellie Baxter described killer Luke D'Wit as "nerdy weird" who played a lot of computer simulation games, and she thinks her family were a "real-life version" for him. He held the remote control and "we were his little pieces to play with" she said. D'Wit, 35, laced Stephen and Carol's medication with an opioid painkiller while using fake identities to control their lives after 'caring' for them. The computer science graduate lived with his mother in a small semi-detached home and locals knew him as a quiet man who volunteered at a soup kitchen and helped to organise the town carnival. READ MORE: Essex Millionaire Murders: Handyman's twisted web of lies who posed as fake doctor before poisoning couple However he had a more sinister motive when it came to 'caring' for the Baxter's, and was jailed for life with a minimum tariff of 37 years at Chelmsford Crown Court in March 2024. The story of unmasking the unassuming killer airs tonight in a two-part documentary ITV documentary, Essex Millionaire Murders. The documentary includes footage from the front door security camera as Ellie makes the harrowing discovery, and her heartbreaking screams as she's arrested for the crime. But in reality, it was D'Wit who was behind the killings. The relationship evolved when D'Wit started keeping Mrs Baxter company on walks and at the gym. He also helped her take medication and performed odd jobs and quickly became Carol's carer, something her daughter Ellie was extremely grateful for. When the couple were found dead in their home, police arrested Ellie, and took her and her brother Harry in for questioning. D'Wit had told police Carol took a lot of medication as she suffered with Hashimotos, a thyroid condition, which he helped her with, and sometimes she would forget how many times she had taken it. But as the investigation went on, it was found that the kind and helpful family friend had actually been playing mind games with the family, inventing fake online personas including doctors, giving dangerous medical diagnoses, and secretly filming the couple in their home before murdering them - all for his own sadistic pleasure. Upon his arrest, they began to uncover the extreme lengths D'Wit explored to control the Baxters. Police found 80 electronic devices at D'Wit's house, some of which had been used to create more than 20 false personas used for his manipulation and after analysis, had found he was offering advice "with no clinical basis" while posing as Dr Bowden, prosecutors told the trial. This advice included taking smoothies that were rich in health benefits made by D'Wit, who Dr Bowden praised as a good friend but instead, they were cocktails of drugs and potions which made her far more unwell than she already was. Carol was starting to experience serious fatigue and forgetfulness, and her doctors had no real diagnosis other than anxiety. The symptoms she was experiencing weren't typical of Hashimoto's, and they were the effects of her being slowly poisoned by D'Wit, who ensured Mrs Baxter kept him updated on her decline via video messages she sent to Dr Bowden. BBC reported that the police investigation uncovered an email sent by D'Wit to the couple on the morning of their deaths, detailing a "liver cleanse recipe" they should follow. It explained how the fatal dose of fentanyl had been administered into their bodies. D'Wit then watched them die between Good Friday and Easter Sunday in a video stream he set up from a phone hidden in their property. Essex Millionaire Murders airs tonight on ITV at 9pm.
Wales Online
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Carol and Stephen Baxter's deaths explored as Essex Millionaire Murders unveils harrowing truth
Carol and Stephen Baxter's deaths explored as Essex Millionaire Murders unveils harrowing truth The Essex Millionaire Murders is an ITV documentary that looks into the deaths of Carol and Stephen Baxter, who were found at their home in April 2023 Stephen Baxter, 61, and his 64-year-old wife Carol (Image: Family handout/PA ) The documentary series The Essex Millionaire Murders begins on ITV on April 28 and revisits a case that stands as one of Essex Police's most intricate investigations. Spread across two episodes, airing on Monday and Tuesday, the programme delves into the events surrounding the April 9, 2023, discovery of the couple's bodies at their West Mersea residence. Featuring insights from four Essex Police officers, including Detective Inspector Lydia George, who led the investigation, the show chronicles the extensive inquiry that ultimately led to the conviction of Luke D'Wit, a family friend of the Baxters, for their murders. D'Wit received a life sentence with a minimum of 37 years imprisonment, marking one of the heaviest sentences secured following an Essex Police investigation. The documentary also explores D'Wit's years-long manipulation of the Baxter family, including his creation of multiple fake personas, such as posing as a doctor, to exert control. Upon D'Wit's sentencing in March 2024, DI George described him as a "pathological liar". Here is an overview of the events surrounding Stephen and Carol Baxter's case. Luke D'Wit was found guilty of murder Article continues below What happened to Stephen and Carol Baxter? D'Wit, 35, murdered the Baxters by administering fentanyl after posing as a doctor and fabricating a will to ensure he would financially benefit. He assumed control of Carol's medication under the guise of treating her autoimmune disease but, in reality, caused her further health issues. On Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023, Carol and Stephen were tragically discovered dead in their Mersea Island residence by their daughter. Neither of them showed any visible injuries or clear cause of death. It was only weeks later that a toxicology report revealed the couple had succumbed to fentanyl poisoning. Their friend, D'Wit, was the last person to see them alive. Two days prior, on April 7, he had administered a lethal dose of fentanyl to the unsuspecting couple. He even went as far as setting up a camera within their home to observe their demise. Stephen and Carol Baxter trusted Luke Upon his arrest, police found several fentanyl patches which D'Wit claimed belonged to his deceased father, but later attributed to his grandfather. In addition, officers discovered a bag containing numerous metal tacks and pill casings. Investigators strongly suspect these items had been previously given to Carol, leading to her hospitalisation after x-rays revealed the tacks in her stomach. During his testimony, D'Wit alleged that both he and Stephen were behind the creation of fictitious characters, used to convince Carol she was receiving medical assistance for her health issues. Article continues below However, under cross-examination, his narrative unravelled. Messages exchanged between the fabricated characters and Stephen Baxter were read out loud, demonstrating that it was implausible for Stephen to have been involved in D'Wit's plot. The documentary series 'Essex Millionaire Murders' will be shown on ITV on April 28 and 29 at 9pm.
Wales Online
28-04-2025
- Wales Online
Luke D'Wit now as true story of 'cold and calculated' killer told in Essex Millionaire Murders
Luke D'Wit now as true story of 'cold and calculated' killer told in Essex Millionaire Murders Luke D'Wit was found guilty of the murders of Carol and Stephen Baxter in one of the most complex criminal cases police have ever undertaken - their deaths are the subject of an ITV documentary Luke D'Wit was found guilty of murder The Essex Millionaire Murders chronicles a "cold and calculated" murderer who fatally poisoned a Mersea Island couple in order to take over their wealth, a criminal the police believe is one of the most menacing individuals they've come across. In March 2024, Luke D'Wit was convicted of the murder of Carol and Stephen Baxter. Now 35, D'Wit had killed the Baxters using fentanyl, disguising himself as a physician, and even forged a Will to guarantee he profited from their tragic end. His heinous act is examined in the two-part ITV documentary, set to broadcast this Monday and Tuesday (April 28 and 29) at 9pm. The intricate web of fabrications and deceit woven by D'Wit was eventually his downfall, in what detectives involved referred to as among the most complex cases they'd ever tackled. Under the guise of a doctor, D'Wit manipulated Carol Baxter's medications under the pretence of treating her autoimmune disorder, only to exacerbate her condition further. Stephen Baxter, 61, and his 64-year-old wife Carol, who were found dead sitting in their individual armchairs (Image: Family handout/PA ) On Easter Sunday (April 9) in 2023, the Baxters were tragically discovered dead by their children, in their residence on Mersea Island in Essex. They were found without any visible injuries or clear signs of how they died. It took weeks before a toxicological examination unveiled the true cause: death by fentanyl poisoning – with the couple's friend, 34 year old Luke D'Wit, being the last known person to see them alive, reports Essex Live. Article continues below Upon D'Wit's arrest, police discovered several fentanyl patches which he initially claimed belonged to his deceased father, later changing his story to say they were his grandfather's. They also found a bag containing metal tacks and pill casings, which investigators strongly suspect were given to Carol, resulting in her hospitalisation after x-rays revealed the tacks in her stomach. On Good Friday (April 7, 2023), D'Wit was the last person to see Carol and Stephen alive, leaving their home just before 8pm. He had administered a lethal dose of fentanyl to the couple, whom he had befriended, and even installed a camera in their home to observe their deaths. In his testimony, D'Wit claimed that he and Stephen were behind the fictitious personas, using these characters to make Carol believe she was receiving assistance for her health and mental wellbeing. However, under cross-examination, his narrative unravelled when messages between the fabricated characters and Stephen Baxter were read out, demonstrating that it was implausible for Stephen to have been involved in D'Wit's intricate scheme. Where is Luke D'Wit now? The nearly six-week trial at Chelmsford Crown Court concluded on March 20, 2024, with a jury unanimously finding D'Wit, from Churchfields, West Mersea, guilty of both murders. He was subsequently handed a life sentence, with a minimum term of 37 years before he can be considered for parole. Detective Superintendent Rob Kirby from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate remarked post-trial: "There was no bloody murder scene. There was no obvious murder weapon. But Carol and Stephen Baxter's deaths were cold and calculated acts of murder carried out by a dangerous man who clearly planned to get away with it. "In all my years in policing, Luke D'Wit is one of the most dangerous men I have come across. I have absolutely no doubt that had he not been caught, he would have gone onto commit further murders. Luke D'Wit's police mugshot, who on Wednesday, March 20, was found guilty of the double murder of Stephen and Carol Baxter (Image: Essex Police ) "He would befriend people and purport to be an upstanding, helpful and kind member of the community. The reality is far more sinister. He is a cold, calculated murderer." Adding to his statement, Det Supt Kirby said: 'D'Wit went to great lengths to cover up his tracks. He deceived everyone who knew him, who welcomed him into their family homes and who relied upon him for help, or at least what they believed was help. What he didn't bank on was that our detectives at Essex Police were much smarter and determined to secure justice. Article continues below 'Those lies, and that deception, continued in the evidence he gave in court. Disgracefully, he based his defence on collusion between himself and Stephen Baxter. Stephen is tragically not here to defend himself but from everything we know about him, this could never have been the case. Thankfully, the jury saw through his fantasies and gave guilty verdicts.' The documentary series 'Essex Millionaire Murders' will be shown on ITV on April 28 and 29 at 9pm.
