Latest news with #ScottPaterson
New York Post
14-07-2025
- New York Post
Man calmly confesses to murdering, dismembering his elderly landlord: ‘This is horrific'
Chilling police footage of the moment a man calmly admits to murdering his 74-year-old live-in landlady has caused widespread horror after the case became the subject of a new TV documentary. Scott Paterson had lived as a tenant in Annette Smith's home in the UK town of Fairfield, Bedfordshire for more than a decade before he brutally took her life on the night of November 8, 2023. The 45-year-old said he 'snapped' after he became tired of caring for her while she recovered from a stroke. 3 Scott Paterson had lived as a tenant in Annette Smith's home for more than a decade before he brutally took her life. channel4 After suffocating the elderly woman as she slept and taking great lengths to cover up his crime, Paterson dismembered her body before hiding parts of her remains at a storage unit and distributing the rest among public bins in the city. Now the 'shocking' confession he gave police after his elaborate cover-up was exposed has been televised in a new episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody called 'The Butcher Of Suburbia'. The popular British show, which has been running since 2014 and is aired on 7+ in Australia, highlights the challenges faced by police officers at Luton Police Station, a cop shop about 34 miles outside of Central London. While episodes over the years have covered all sorts of crimes and investigations, its most recent is particularly grisly, prompting an almost visceral reaction from viewers on social media. 3 The 45-year-old said he 'snapped' after he became tired of caring for her while she recovered from a stroke. channel4 In the footage, filmed inside an interrogation room at the station, Paterson recounts the gruesome details of his crime in such a calm fashion it leaves the police visibly dumbstruck and sent shivers down viewers' spines. After telling police he killed his elderly roommate – who friends described as a generous soul that took Paterson in out of the goodness of her heart – officers quizzed him on where her body was. 'Where's Annette,' a female officer asked, to which he coldly replies, 'there isn't a full body'. 'I did keep her in the house for quite some time, but as time went by, I realized she couldn't stay in the house. 'I wasn't sure what to do, so I did dismember her.' Initially he hid her remains under the stairs, before moving them to a storage unit about 3 miles from their home. Paterson, who is wearing a blue checkered shirt and a black baseball cap during the interview, then proceeds to explain in precise detail how he went about the horrific task – with much of the admission too shocking to publish. 'It was a gradual process, I couldn't face doing something like that in one go,' the murderer explained, before stating he first chopped up Smith's feet with a saw and a knife. 'I work in a butchers, so I see how they deal with things like that, but I obviously watch quite a lot of horror films and stuff so it has probably stemmed from there as well.' Paterson, who was employed at a local farm shop at the time of the murder, had also done a butchery course, according to the BBC. It took him 'a few weeks' to completely dismember her body, placing Smith into an array of plastic bags, admitting he was physically sick during the lengthy process. After, he 'discarded' the 10 different pieces of Smith's body 'gradually' in bins around the city – including several outside supermarkets. In order to cover his tracks, Paterson hacked into his landlady's email account and sent Christmas cards and emails to her friends and family, pretending she was still alive. The deception lasted for months, but eventually relatives grew suspicious because of 'multiple kisses at the end of the email' that 'did not ring true, and alerted local police. 3 It took him 'a few weeks' to completely dismember her body, placing Smith into an array of plastic bags. channel4 At first, Paterson falsely claimed Smith had left the house voluntarily with an unknown woman, but investigators found her passport, clothing, mobile phone and laptop still at the home, and noted there had been no activity on her bank account. Detectives also found CCTV footage and records proving Paterson also stole the old lady's jewelry and other belongings, which he sold for more than $6,749, The Sun reported. After discovering Paterson had debts of over $40,497, police arrested him on April 30, 2024, and he quickly confessed to the murder. During sentencing, Luton Crown Court court heard Smith and Paterson had become friends and she had invited him to lodge in her spare room rent-free, in exchange for company and running errands. Start your day with all you need to know Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters They had also gone on holiday together, the BBC reported. After she had a stroke, her mobility was affected and the dynamic of their friendship changed, with Paterson becoming her carer who would collect medicine and wash her. Judge Justice Murray described Paterson's actions as 'awful' and 'callous' during sentencing in November last year. He was given life in prison and ordered to serve a minimum of 20 years before he is eligible for parole. The gruesome crime recently became the subject of a TV documentary, where Paterson's actions left viewers horrified. 'So scary the people we walk this world alongside,' one commented on social media. 'He's so calm it's disturbing,' remarked another. As one declared: 'OMG. This is horrific. Poor Annette.'
News.com.au
13-07-2025
- News.com.au
‘Disturbing' police video of murder confession leaves viewers horrified
Chilling police footage of the moment a man calmly admits to murdering his 74-year-old live-in landlady has caused widespread horror after the case became the subject of a new TV doco. Scott Paterson had lived as a tenant in Annette Smith's home in the UK town of Fairfield, Bedfordshire for more than a decade before he brutally took her life on the night of November 8, 2023. The 45-year-old said he 'snapped' after he became tired of caring for her while she recovered from a stroke. After suffocating the elderly woman as she slept and taking great lengths to cover up his crime, Paterson dismembered her body before hiding parts of her remains at a storage unit and distributing the rest among public bins in the city. Now the 'shocking' confession he gave police after his elaborate cover-up was exposed has been televised in a new episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody called 'The Butcher Of Suburbia'. The popular British show, which has been running since 2014 and is aired on 7+ in Australia, highlights the challenges faced by police officers at Luton Police Station, a cop shop about 55km outside of Central London. While episodes over the years have covered all sorts of crimes and investigations, its most recent is particularly grisly, prompting an almost visceral reaction from viewers on social media. In the footage, filmed inside an interrogation room at the station, Paterson recounts the gruesome details of his crime in such a calm fashion it leaves the police visibly dumbstruck and sent shivers down viewers' spines. After telling police he killed his elderly roommate – who friends described as a generous soul that took Paterson in out of the goodness of her heart – officers quizzed him on where her body was. 'Where's Annette,' a female officer asked, to which he coldly replies, 'there isn't a full body'. 'I did keep her in the house for quite some time, but as time went by, I realised she couldn't stay in the house. 'I wasn't sure what to do, so I did dismember her.' Initially he hid her remains under the stairs, before moving them to a storage unit about 5kms from their home. Paterson, who is wearing a blue chequered shirt and a black baseball cap during the interview, then proceeds to explain in precise detail how he went about the horrific task – with much of the admission too shocking to publish. 'It was a gradual process, I couldn't face doing something like that in one go,' the murderer explained, before stating he first chopped up Ms Smith's feet with a saw and a knife. 'I work in a butchers, so I see how they deal with things like that, but I obviously watch quite a lot of horror films and stuff so it has probably stemmed from there as well.' Paterson, who was employed at a local farm shop at the time of the murder, had also done a butchery course, according to the BBC. It took him 'a few weeks' to completely dismember her body, placing Ms Smith into an array of plastic bags, admitting he was physically sick during the lengthy process. After, he 'discarded' the 10 different pieces of Ms Smith's body 'gradually' in bins around the city – including several outside supermarkets. In order to cover his tracks, Paterson hacked into his landlady's email account and sent Christmas cards and emails to her friends and family, pretending she was still alive. The deception lasted for months, but eventually relatives grew suspicious because of 'multiple kisses at the end of the email' that 'did not ring true, and alerted local police. At first, Paterson falsely claimed Ms Smith had left the house voluntarily with an unknown woman, but investigators found her passport, clothing, mobile phone and laptop still at the home, and noted there had been no activity on her bank account. Detectives also found CCTV footage and records proving Paterson also stole the old lady's jewellery and other belongings, which he sold for more than £5000 (about $10,300 Australian Dollars), The Sun reported. After discovering Paterson had debts of over £30,000 ($62,000), police arrested him on April 30, 2024, and he quickly confessed to the murder. During sentencing, Luton Crown Court court heard Ms Smith and Paterson had become friends and she had invited him to lodge in her spare room rent-free, in exchange for company and running errands. They had also gone on holiday together, the BBC reported. After she had a stroke, her mobility was affected and the dynamic of their friendship changed, with Paterson becoming her carer who would collect medicine and wash her. Judge Justice Murray described Paterson's actions as 'awful' and 'callous' during sentencing in November last year. He was given life in prison and ordered to serve a minimum of 20 years before he is eligible for parole. The gruesome crime recently became the subject of a TV documentary, where Paterson's actions left viewers horrified. 'So scary the people we walk this world alongside,' one commented on social media. 'He's so calm it's disturbing,' remarked another. As one declared: 'OMG. This is horrific. Poor Annette.'
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Murder house where 'Butcher of Suburbia' killed his elderly landlady goes on sale for £550,000
A murder house where an elderly landlady was smothered to death and dismembered by her tenant has gone on sale for £550,000. Scott Paterson killed 74-year-old Annette Smith at their shared home in Fairfield, Bedfordshire in November 2024. The disturbing case featured on an episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody titled The Butcher of Suburbia, showing bodycam footage of officers walking through the house. Now, the property - described by its estate agent as having an 'airy and majestic atmosphere' - has hit market for £550,000 and is being advertised by Fine & Country. The Grade ll listed building features a master bedroom with an en suite bathroom, vaulted ceilings, an open plan kitchen and dining room and a large garden perfect for 'entertaining and al fresco dining'. The description reads: 'A uniquely designed three bedroom apartment. 'This remarkable property seamlessly blends period features with modern comfort. 'The moment you step into the entrance, the expansive space and unique architectural details capture your attention, situated within the ever so popular Fairfield Park. 'The focal point of this property is undoubtedly its vaulted ceilings. 'Towering above, these ceilings create an airy and majestic atmosphere, providing a sense of openness and grandeur. 'The arches and curves of the vaulted design add a touch of elegance, reflecting a bygone era. 'The living spaces are generously proportioned, offering an abundance of room for various purposes. 'The main reception area is a vast expanse, bathed in natural light streaming through large windows. 'The open-plan kitchen/diner connects living, dining and even entertainment areas, fostering a sense of connectivity.' It goes on to say the 'property is being sold with vacant possession following the death of the previous occupier at the house'. Paterson had been living with Ms Smith for several years when she suffered a stoke and he began caring for her. After the then-45-year-old killed Ms Smith in November 2023, he tried to cover his tracks by using a kitchen knife and saw to dismember her body. He then hid her remains in a storage unit in Letchworth, Hertfordshire. Ms Smith's family became suspicious and alerted the police. Paterson confessed to the murder soon after being arrested. The body of Ms Smith was discovered in a suitcase in a storage locker in May last year. Paterson was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 20 years, six months later.
The Sun
08-07-2025
- The Sun
Inside ‘house of horrors' where tenant smothered landlady before chopping up body – as it hits market for half a million
A MURDER house where an elderly landlady was brutally murdered by her tenant has hit the market for over half a million. Scott Paterson smothered 74-year-old Annette Smith with a pillow at their shared home. 6 6 6 The disturbing case featured on an episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody titled The Butcher of Suburbia which showed bodycam footage of officers walking through the home. Paterson had been living with Annette for several years when she suffered a stroke and he began caring for her. The 45-year-old then murdered Annette in November 2023, using a pillow to smother her to death. Paterson attempted to cover his tracks by using a kitchen knife and saw to dismember her body. He then hid her remains in a storage unit in Letchworth, Hertfordshire. Annette's family became suspicious and alerted the police and Paterson confessed to the murder soon after being arrested. Annette's body was discovered in a suitcase in a storage locker in May last year. The property in Fairfield, Bedfordshire, is now on the market for £550,000 and is being advertised by Fine & Country. The Grade ll listed building features a master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, vaulted ceilings, an open plan kitchen and dining room and a large garden perfect for 'entertaining and al fresco dining'. The description reads: 'A uniquely designed three bedroom apartment. 'This remarkable property seamlessly blends period features with modern comfort. 'The moment you step into the entrance, the expansive space and unique architectural details capture your attention, situated within the ever so popular Fairfield Park. 'This remarkable property seamlessly blends period features with modern comfort. 'The focal point of this property is undoubtedly its vaulted ceilings. 'Towering above, these ceilings create an airy and majestic atmosphere, providing a sense of openness and grandeur. 'The arches and curves of the vaulted design add a touch of elegance, reflecting a bygone era. 'The living spaces are generously proportioned, offering an abundance of room for various purposes. 'The main reception area is a vast expanse, bathed in natural light streaming through large windows. 'The open-plan kitchen/diner connects living, dining and even entertainment areas, fostering a sense of connectivity.' It goes on to say that the 'property is being sold with vacant possession following the death of the previous occupier at the house.' Paterson was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 20 years, six months after Annette's body was found. 6 6 6
Daily Mail
01-07-2025
- Daily Mail
CHRISTOPHER STEVENS reviews 24 Hours In Police Custody: The Butcher Of Suburbia: Armchair sleuths will have cracked this case before the first ad break...
When I am murdered, as I inevitably shall be if I carry on being rude about every actor on TV, what I don't want is for the crime to be investigated by estate agents. But that's how Bedfordshire police behaved when they arrived at the house of a missing woman, chronicled in the two-part documentary 24 Hours In Police Custody: The Butcher Of Suburbia. 'It looks like an old chapel,' mused one copper, arriving at the dormer bungalow in Fairfield on Sunday's episode, after lodger Scott Paterson reported that he hadn't seen his 74-year-old landlady, Annette Smith, for six weeks. 'Quite big, isn't it?' the officer added, on footage captured by his bodycam. 'There's an upstairs as well,' he marvelled. Channel 4 is agog for anything to do with homes and properties, but the serious crime squad should leave guided tours to Phil and Kirstie. Police forces give film crews access to their investigations because they want the publicity. Solving messy homicides, they reason, will make them look efficient, dedicated, implacable. But shows like this have become commonplace, and viewers are growing adept at deciphering the clues even before the first ad break — which can make detectives appear to trail far behind. It wasn't until three months later, when Paterson, pictured, was picked up for drink-driving, that they began to suspect the lonely lodger wasn't as innocent as he acted Chilly seas of the week Crime reporter Martin (Luke Arnold) went back to the surfers' paradise where he grew up, in Aussie drama Scrublands: Silver (BBC2). Old pals sauntered by holding surfboards, but none of them actually went in the water. Filmed in winter, perhaps? While the bobbies from Beds were taking note of the house's potential for modernisaton, we armchair sleuths had already spotted one glaring contradiction in the lodger's story. Paterson claimed Annette failed to return after packing a suitcase for a trip with a friend. But the house was almost stripped bare. How big was that suitcase? Even her bedclothes were gone. Paterson clearly wasn't expecting the old girl to return. He dabbed away a few tears as he told investigators how mystified he was. He couldn't have been less convincing if he'd pretended she was abducted by aliens. Incredibly, the police sent him away with a promise that he'd let them know if Annette turned up. It wasn't until three months later, when Paterson was picked up for drink-driving, that they began to suspect the lonely lodger wasn't as innocent as he acted. Belatedly, the Beds feds pursued a few old-fashioned lines of inquiry. They discovered that emails purportedly written by Annette had been sent from her home, weeks after she vanished. And her jewellery kept turning up with an online cash-for-gold merchant. It wasn't until a detective constable thought to ask an obvious question that guilt was established beyond doubt. 'Are you responsible for the death of Annette Smith?' she wondered. Paterson paused dramatically for a few seconds, and then agreed that yes, he'd killed her, dismembered her body and distributed her remains in public bins. A keen chief inspector, scenting more confessions, asked: 'Have you ever done anything like this before?' Another extended pause. 'Not that I can think of,' Paterson said. The detectives seemed satisfied with this denial. Move along now, nothing to see here.
