Latest news with #TheEssexMillionaireMurders
Daily Mirror
29-04-2025
- Daily Mirror
Tragic life of Carol and Stephen Baxter's daughter now shunned on lonely island
Ellena Baxter, daughter of Carol and Stephen Baxter, has revealed that she has been shunned by people who wrongly suspected she was involved in her parents' deaths The daughter of Carol and Stephen Baxter has said that people still 'look away' from her following her parents' tragic deaths. In 2023, Ellena Baxter became concerned that her beloved parents hadn't been picking up her calls. In response, she visited them at their home in Mersea Island where she made a horrifying discovery and found them dead in their armchairs. Initially Ellena was arrested on suspicion of her parents' murder, though she was later released without charge. In March 2024 Luke D'Wit, who created more than 20 personas to deceive Carol and Stephen, was sentenced to life in prison for the murders, with a minimum of 37 years, after lacing their medication with fentanyl. 'Luke D'Wit visited Carol and Stephen on Easter Friday and was messaging them as this fake doctor while he was in the house with them, helping to make a 'medicinal drink' using a fatal dose of fentanyl, before leaving at 8pm. A mobile phone had been set up in the kitchen to record and monitor them. He had watched them die,' explained Detective Inspector George, the senior investigative officer of the case. Despite the pair's killer now being behind bars, Ellena has revealed that life is still 'really difficult' for her as people who wrongly suspected she was involved have shunned her since her parents' deaths. 'When I am in Mersea, if I go into the shops people look away from me,' she told the BBC. 'It's really horrible but these people who are speculating, they didn't go to the trial, they don't know the facts and it has been really difficult.' In a new two-part ITV documentary, The Essex Millionaire Murders, Ellena has opened up about her experience and said that she 'wanted to clear my name' by taking part. 'I just wanted to outline that actually I wasn't involved, this is what happened and I wanted to help tell that story,' she said. Two years on, Ellena has also revealed that she has chosen to move away from 'cliquey' Mersea. 'Even now, after Luke is serving a life sentence, there are those who say, 'Oh, it couldn't have been nice Luke,'' she told The Sun. 'I know that a lot of people think I had something to do with it. We would go into a shop and people would look away from us. They have made up their own stories that Luke was my mum's love child or that I had a relationship with him.' She added that some of her family have assumed she 'was in a relationship' with Luke and that she had 'something to do' with the murders. As well as losing her mum and dad, Ellena says she has lost 'the rest' of her family too. Speaking about the impact D'Wit has had on her life, Ellena told the publication how her kids are the thing that keep her going day-to-day. 'Some days are better than others. From Mother's Day to the end of this month is a very hard time because Luke drugged my parents on April 7 and took me for an early birthday meal the following day to Frankie & Benny's,' she said. 'My birthday is on April 13 and I feel guilty celebrating it now, so I've moved it to May. It is a really difficult time, but my kids keep me going.'
Times
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
The Essex Millionaire Murders review — a crime born out of sheer cruelty
What a horrendous thing to hear in real time, the agonised screams of a young woman finding both her parents dead. Security camera, bodycam and personal mobile phone footage play a huge part in The Essex Millionaire Murders (ITV1). Over two episodes, we effectively witness the slow murder of a lovely couple. 'I watched someone literally kill my parents in front of me,' said their daughter, Ellena. I found the title of this otherwise meticulous documentary slightly tawdry and, indeed, distracting, as Carol and Stephen Baxter's wealth wasn't much mentioned, and in any case the murder motive was not financial. It seemed the killer, a family 'friend' and a wolf in sheep's clothing, had simply enjoyed controlling and torturing them over a number of
The Guardian
28-04-2025
- The Guardian
The Essex Millionaire Murders review – absolutely grim and astonishing true-crime TV
What are we going to do with all the bad people? Like, really? What are we going to do with all the people whose stories hurl your mind back to a primitive state of lusting for vengeance, or make you long for a simpler time when the conclusion 'They are evil' was considered a sufficient explanation and you could proceed with their punishment and society's protection? Such are the thoughts that run through one's mind when confronted with the likes of The Essex Millionaire Murders. The two-part documentary tells the grimly shocking story of the 2023 murders of Carol and Stephen Baxter. They were found dead in their home in Mersea, Essex, by their daughter Ellena. There were no marks on the bodies, no injuries, no signs of a break-in. Carol had become increasingly ill since they moved there, apparently from Hashimoto's disease, an autoimmune disorder, and husband Stephen had become her carer. Had it all become too much and they had then made a suicide- or murder-suicide pact? They had seemed a devoted couple and, though it was all mysterious, stranger things have happened: post-mortem and toxicology reports would, hopefully, offer answers. What unfolds from there is astonishing – courtesy of interviews with the investigating officers, who only just manage to maintain the veneer of professional detachment as their recounting of the extraordinary case goes on, and with Ellena, who speaks with the stark honesty of someone just coming out of the first shock of bereavement and still trying to come to terms with the incredible facts. We live in such a heavily recorded age that a vast amount of the Baxters' story can be told using contemporary footage. We watch through the Baxters' home security camera as Ellena gets out of her car on 9 April two years ago to visit her parents. They don't answer the door so she goes out of shot to look through their windows. The audio picks up her screams. The bodycam footage of the police who attend shows her being comforted by neighbours and an officer gathering initial accounts from one who was particularly close to the family, Luke D'Wit, who tells them about Carol's medications and health issues. There are the videos that the vivacious, charismatic Carol filmed of herself when she was well and running her own small business after a career as a maths teacher. And there are the videos from a few years later, recorded by her, and then by Stephen as her faculties decline, under the instruction of Dr Andrea Bowden, an expert offering bespoke treatment for Carol's condition, advising her by email and texts from the US on the rules that she must follow if she wants to get better. In addition, there are messages between the family members, and between them and D'Wit – who has become like a son to them after starting as an IT consultant for the business – and between Carol and her WhatsApp support group with fellow Hashimoto's sufferers. When a letter is found after her death among Carol's papers that purports to change her will to leave the business to Ellena and D'Wit, the police wonder if they have just found a motive for murder. When the toxicology report reveals that the pair died of overdoses of drugs including fentanyl, Ellena and D'Wit are arrested. There is footage of that, too – Ellena mentally reeling, D'Wit preternaturally calm, chatting in the car to the officers and from his holding cell – and then of their respective interviews with the detectives. It is no spoiler, given her presence in the programme, to say that Ellena is cleared of any involvement in her parents' death. What emerges around D'Wit is very different and makes you long for the banality of a mere financial motive. What do we do with bad people? With those who move through life seeking opportunities to torture others psychologically, to take advantage of the generous of heart and spirit, to maim the mind, weaken the body and eventually – when Stephen's suspicions are roused – move on to murder? Who remain perfectly controlled throughout and even find, at least in one detective's opinion, a way to deliver a last jolt of pain to the family at trial? There are no bells or whistles here – the makers have enough sense and respect to let the story and its sorrows stand alone. But what a world, my friends. What a world. Part 1 of The Essex Millionaire Murders aired on ITV1; part 2 is on 29 April. Both are on ITVX now.
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.
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.
