Latest news with #truecrime
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Where is Rose West now? Inside the serial killer's life behind prison bars
ROSE West is a convicted serial killer who murdered ten girls in her Gloucester home. Her horrifying crime spree was aided by her husband, who was convicted of murdering 12 women. 4 Rose's life behind bars Rose West, born on November 29, 1953, was imprisoned at HMP Low Newton in Durham, where she was initially kept under guard due to fears that other inmates might attack her. She was jailed for life in 1995, after being convicted of ten confirmed murders. After her conviction, West lodged an appeal claiming that her husband committed the crimes alone, and that she had also been abused by him. The Court of Appeal refused to consider her application back in 1996. Fred West committed suicide before standing trial, making Rose a widow. Prisoner Julie McAllister claimed in March 2017 that she pummelled West after being infuriated that she was getting fan mail behind bars. In 2019 she was reportedly moved to New Hall jail in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, after being threatened by another serial killer. wedding proposals - with people mailing love letters to her cell. Netflix documentary delves into the crimes of Fred and Rose West with new testimony and footage She even received Mother's Day cards from adoring fans in 2020. Since serving her time in prison, Rose claims that she has found religion and " believes God will forgive her". She also allegedly applied to change her now-infamous name to Jennifer Jones. It was also reported that she paid £36 to change her name via deed poll. A source told The Sun: 'Rose thinks the name will give her some anonymity but there's a lot of anger about it. 'She's chosen the new surname because it's so common and the Christian name just because she's always liked it." After 30 years in jail, Rose is still 'pleading total innocence' despite being found guilty decades earlier. Her former lawyer Leo Goatley has urged her to "find redemption" by confessing. He told the Mirror: 'There is an awful lot Rose knows that she hasn't revealed. 'There isn't much that Fred did that she wasn't aware of. If her inner journey has really gone anywhere since she has been in prison there are things she should say that would help the families of her victims. 'To start with, she could clear up the Mary Bastholm disappearance. 'This blanket pleading of total ignorance of everything that happened is just daft at this point. 'Also she could very simply clear up if there are other victims we don't even know about.' Reportedly, West is battling with dementia and can barely walk - instead remaining in her cell and watching nature documentaries. 4 Meeting her killer husband She met Fred West when she was fifteen, whilst waiting at a Cheltenham bus station. He was 13 years older than her and was living in a caravan. Rose had been sexually abused by her father, who disapproved of Fred, prompting her to move out with her new partner. To support herself and her husband, she began working as a prostitute in Gloucester. Eventually, the pair married in January 1972 and moved to 25 Cromwell Street - the site of their future murders. 4 Rose and Fred West's evil crime spree Rose murdered her step-daughter Charmaine in June 1971, kicking off a horrifying crime spree. The pair sexually assaulted Caroline Roberts in 1973, before abducting girls from bus stops around Gloucester. They would imprison the girls for several days before killing them. Rose gave birth to eight children, five of which were biologically Fred's. The other three were fathered by clients whom she met through prostitution. Fred and Rose murdered their daughter Heather Ann and claimed that she had eloped with her girlfriend, whilst also threatening their living children by saying that they will 'end up' like Heather. Their sickening crimes began to unravel when Fred was accused of raping his 13-year-old daughter in 1992, and Rose was arrested for child cruelty. While the case collapsed when their daughters refused to testify, cops launched a major investigation. Eventually, the bodies of several women were discovered in the Wests' basement and buried in their garden. In 1995, Rose was convicted of 10 murders whilst Fred admitted to 12 killings. Before killing himself, Fred confessed to murdering up to 30 women. Rose West and Myra Hindley One book, written by West's former lawyer Leo Goatley, claimed that the convict was involved in a love affair with Myra Hindley. Hindley was a serial killer, known for committing a series of murders alongside her partner Ian Brady. However, reportedly, West and Hindley's relationship ended on sour terms after the former found her to be manipulative.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Inside the lonely prison life of Rose West as she struggles to walk and is shunned by everyone... except the serial killer's twisted fans who send her letters
Serial killer Rose West - who has spent the last thirty years behind bars for her depraved crimes - spends her days in isolation and has become increasingly frail, it has been revealed. Rose and her husband Fred remain among Britain's most prolific serial killers, after they carried out a campaign of abuse so vicious that they were branded 'the epitome of evil.' Between 1967 and 1987, the deviant couple tortured, raped, and murdered at least 12 young women in Gloucester, before Fred died by suicide and Rose was sentenced to life in prison in 1995. Three decades later, Rose - who has since changed her name to Jennifer Jones - remains an inmate at women's only HMP New Hall in West Yorkshire. New details of her life in prison suggest that she spends her days alone in her cell knitting and watching nature documentaries, The Sun reports. 'Often she's just in her cell on her own and the other prisoners can hear her talking to the TV if they walk past,' according to a source. Although she 'sometimes sits in the communal areas on her own,' fellow inmates do not talk to her 'because everyone knows who she is and what she did, even if she has changed her name,' a source said. It is also claimed that Rose has tried to befriend other prisoners by offering them gifts, but her efforts have been continuously rejected. Rose and Fred West collaborated on their heinous crimes but Fred escaped justice when he died by suicide while awaiting trial while Rose was sentence to life imprisonment She will also repeatedly sit in social areas around other inmates just to annoy them, knowing that they do not want to be around her. The convicted serial killer is also said to have resigned herself to dying in prison despite having maintained her innocence. She is understood to be living in a disabled room because she now struggles to walk. Rose has been described to be 'very set in her ways' and is allegedly 'abusive' to prison guards when things don't go her way. But despite being shunned by fellow inmates, the prisoner reportedly receives letters from twisted fans and admirers. Rose and Fred's sadistic story has returned to the limelight following the release of a Netflix true crime docu-series which re-examines the chilling case, including how cops unearthed the remains of their victims. Over 20 years, the couple murdered at least 12 young women, including two of their own daughters, in their home on Cromwell Street in Gloucester. It is thought the earliest of Fred's sickening offences started in his younger years when he is thought to have sexually abused his younger sister. But when he met Rose, the pair fed off each other's depraved desires and began a campaign of torture, sexual violence and murder. Police finally brought Fred and Rose's killing spree to an end in February 1994 when they turned up at Cromwell Street with a search warrant. They were later convicted of the combined murders of 12 women at their home in Gloucester between 1967 and 1987, including their daughter Heather, 16. However, police might have discovered Heather's bones two years earlier had they paid attention to a comment made by one of the West children when being interviewed in August 1992, according to the Cromwell Inquiry. At the time, police and social services had removed the children from their home due to child protection concerns and moved them temporarily to Cowley Manor in Cheltenham. Following the move, social services staff and police interviewed the children, which is when one referred to a family joke of 'Heather being under the patio'. It wasn't until police discovered Heather's bones under the concrete that the true meaning of the sinister 'joke' came to light. The interviews conducted by police and social services took some time, with one lasting one day and a half. During the lengthy interview, a West child made a fleeting remark about the family 'joke'. However, the police officer did not remember the remark and instead focused on their immediate protection concerns. At the time, Heather's whereabouts were only of interest because she could have provided further information on her sibling's safety for the investigation, meaning police did not have concerns about her well-being. From then, there was no further mentions of Heather until one year later, in the early summer of 1993, when social workers started to notice the children's comments on the 'joke' and their claims that a patio was laid when Heather went missing. Because the West children made the comments infrequently, staff were initially conflicted on whether to take them literally. However, by August of that year and after further comments, staff became certain that the police should be informed, and so a social worker and County Council legal executive reached out. Police tried to locate Heather, but by early 1994, officers were still unable to find her. Therefore, police decided that witnesses to the children's comments regarding Heather should make formal statements. Together with previous police enquiries, the statements provided the Gloucester Magistrates with sufficient evidence to issue a search warrant, allowing officers to search the West family home for evidence of Heather's location. On February 24, Detective Chief Inspector Terry Moore and Detective Inspector Tony James visited the West home and told Rose that her rear garden was to be searched in connection with the disappearance of Heather. That evening, Fred came home from work after the police officers had left and went to the police station voluntarily, which is where he told officers that he had seen Heather recently in Birmingham. The next day, Fred admitted to police in his home that Heather was in the garden but that they were looking in the wrong place. Police arrested Fred, who admitted to killing Heather but later retracted his statements, and Rose, who did not admit to the crime. On February 26, police found remains of Heather's body in the garden, as well as the remains of a second body. Fred appeared at Gloucester Magistrates' Court two days later, where he was charged with the murder of his daughter. On May 26, Rose was charged with Heather's murder between May 28, 1987, and February 27, 1994. She replied, 'I'm innocent'. The now-71-year-old was first incarcerated at HMP Bronzefield before being transferred to HM Prison Low Newton. In 2019, she was transferred to HMP New Hall in West Yorkshire, where she remains. Her move to HMP New Hall came after there were reportedly fears for her safety due to the presence of another serial killer on the premises.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
‘Stomach-churning' thriller rockets up the Netflix charts a whopping 14 years on from its ITV debut - as viewers warn ‘it left me with chills'
A 'stomach-churning' thriller has rocketed up the Netflix charts a whopping 14 years on from its ITV debut - with viewers warning 'it left me with chills'. Appropriate Adult, which first aired on ITV in 2011, is a two-part mini-series of TV films dramatising how serial killers Fred and Rose West were brought to justice. The couple tortured, raped and murdered at least twelve young women in Gloucester between 1967 and 1987 - including their daughter Heather, 16, and Rose's stepdaughter Charmaine, eight. The dramatisation runs from their arrests in February 1994 until Fred's suicide, aged 53, behind bars in January 1995 - while Rose, 71, is still now serving a life sentence. It stars Dominic West as Fred, Monica Dolan (Mr Bates vs The Post Office) as Rose and Emily Watson as social worker Janet Leach - Fred's appropriate adult during police interviews, so there can be no suggestion he did not understand them. Viewers have taken to IMDb to express how gripping this older dramatisation is - after a harrowing Netflix documentary on the Wests, released earlier this month, reawakened interest in the case. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The documentary, called Fred And Rose West: A British Horror Story, focusses on the victims' families. For some, it was the first time they spoke out and opened up on camera about their trauma. Appropriate Adult, by contrast, hones in on Janet's pivotal role, present in all Fred's interviews about his horrifying crimes. The drama received a whopping eight BAFTA nominations at the time of its release, with Dominic (The Crown) and Emily (Chernobyl) winning the awards for best actor and actress respectively. One viewer said of the series, which is currently ranking in the streamer's top ten, said: 'I was very moved by this dramatisation. Brilliant acting which left me with chills. 'I had to keep reminding myself that these events actually happened because it's so stomach-churning. This is definitely a must-see!' Another said: 'Emily Watson's stunning BAFTA-winning performance sets the small screen ablaze in this gripping study of sociopathy and those seduced by it. 'Watson does some of her most memorable and powerful work here and it is a clear demonstration of a gifted actor at the height of her artistry.' Viewers have taken to IMDb (pictured) to express how gripping this older dramatisation is But not everyone was pleased with the TV show, as one commenter (pictured) took issue with what they felt was a too sympathetic portrayal of Fred But not everyone was pleased with the TV show, as one commenter took issue with what they felt was a too sympathetic portrayal of Fred. They said: 'It was repellent - as well as incomprehensible - to watch Leach's developing interest and fascination with Fred West. 'Anyone watching this [series] should first do some Googling to find out the details of what Fred and Rosemary West perpetrated. 'If anyone deserves to be called human monsters, it is this pair. 'In the light of this knowledge, the script's clear intention - to me anyway - to actually make West into a figure of sympathy is disgusting.' The opening credits explain: 'This is a true story. What follows is based on extensive research, interviews and published accounts. 'Some scenes have been created for the purposes of dramatisation.' But it felt all too real for Dominic, who told the BBC at the time of filming that playing Fred gave him nightmares: 'I have this recurring dream where I'm perched on a wall and Fred West is trying to grab me and pull me down.' The drama received a whopping eight BAFTA nominations at the time of its release, with Dominic (The Crown) and Emily (Chernobyl) winning the awards for best actor and actress respectively The couple (pictured) tortured, raped and murdered at least twelve young women in Gloucester between 1967 and 1987 - including their daughter Heather, 16, and Rose's stepdaughter Charmaine, eight He also defended the series against criticisms it might be too traumatising for the victims' families to watch. Dominic said: 'I think it's effective without being sensational in any way. 'Thousands of people still go missing in this country every year and are never found. 'Fred West preyed on runaways without being caught for 25 years. We should not forget this case because there could be others like him.' It comes after audiences saw for the first time the eerie home videos of the West family, featured in the Netflix documentary that landed earlier this month. Riding bicycles over hilly tracks, wading through rambling streams and with children excitedly running off in different directions, they look like an ordinary family enjoying a day trip to the countryside. You would never guess this was footage of the family life of Britain's most notorious and sadistic serial killers: the Wests. The extraordinary family archive appears alongside chilling police footage of the moments West began giving up the secrets of 25 Cromwell Street in Gloucester. Riding bicycles over hilly tracks (pictured), wading through rambling streams and with children excitedly running off in different directions, they look like an ordinary family enjoying a day trip to the countryside Over a series of visits, West coldly points out where he has hidden the bodies of the vulnerable young women who were held captive, raped and tortured at the Wests' infamous address which would become known as the 'house of horrors'. He could not look more relaxed with a cigarette in hand. At times he has a smile on his face or is cracking jokes. It would later emerge that over 20 years the couple murdered at least 12 young women including two of their own children. Nine were dismembered and buried under the cellar and the garden patio at Cromwell Street by builder West. Rose was found guilty in 1995 of murdering ten girls and women, while Fred was facing trial for 12 murders before his suicide the same year.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I am a forensic psychiatrist who came face to face with Peter Sutcliffe at Broadmoor Hospital - these are the four types of serial killers and their TWISTED motivations
Dr Andrew Johns, who has studied some of Britain's most notorious murderers as a psychiatrist, identified the four types of serial killer on a new Mail podcast. An Appointment with Murder is a true crime series which delves into the minds, methods and motivations behind medical murderers. Medical murderers are those who pervert their positions of trust, as doctors or nurses, to prey on the public. The season opens with a study of the infamous cases of doctors Harold Shipman and John Bodkin Adams. The podcast is hosted by Dr Harry Brünjes and Dr Andrew Johns, who trained together as medical students at Guy's Hospital in London. Harry spent sixteen years as a clinician and a police surgeon, whilst Andrew became one of the leading forensic psychiatrists in the UK, spending years inside the walls of Broadmoor and giving evidence in at least 100 murder trials. Laying the groundwork for their analysis, Andrew told the brand-new podcast what psychological categories serial killers like Shipman and Bodkin Adams fall into. 'The Visionary' Andrew explained: 'The visionary is a person who becomes a serial killer because he is impelled to by some inner motive or belief. 'A good example of that would be Peter Sutcliffe. The motive for his murders came from his paranoid schizophrenia – he felt impelled to kill women who he perceived as prostitutes.' Peter Sutcliffe, known as the Yorkshire Ripper, was a serial killer who murdered 13 women and attempted to kill seven others across Yorkshire and Greater Manchester between 1975 and 1980. He was arrested in January 1981, convicted of his crimes, and sentenced to life imprisonment, dying in prison in November 2020 at age 74. 'The Hedonist' 'The hedonist is defined as someone who kills for pleasure', Andrew described. 'An example of this type of serial killer would be Fred West. With his wife Rose, he tortured, over a long period of time, twelve female victims. 'He enjoyed watching them die and then dismembered and buried their bodies in the garden.' Fred West was a serial killer who, along with his wife Rose West, murdered at least 12 young women and girls between 1967 and 1987, burying many of the victims at their home in Gloucester, England. He was arrested in 1994 but died by suicide in his prison cell on January 1, 1995, before he could stand trial, while Rose West was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. 'The Controller' The controller is a murderer who relishes lauding and exploiting their positions of power over their victims. Looking ahead to one of the subjects of the new podcast, Andrew said: 'We here relate to Bodkin Adams. 'Bodkin Adams was suspected of having killed over 150 people. He enjoyed manipulating his relationship with the elderly. He proscribed large doses of medication to them and made elderly ladies' dependant on him. 'We know that many gave him bequests in their wills.' John Bodkin Adams was a GP who became the subject of one of the most famous murder trials in 1950s England, accused of killing elderly patients for financial gain through their wills. He was acquitted of murder in 1957 but was later convicted of prescription fraud and other offenses, with modern analysis suggesting he may have been responsible for the deaths of over 160 patients during his medical career. 'The Mission Orientated' The mission orientated killer is a murderer who commits their heinous acts with a clear goal in mind. 'We here turn to Harold Shipman', Andrew said. 'He may have killed as many 450 people. There was no sign of mental illness. His motive, as far as we can conjecture, was he felt himself on a mission to – cruel words I know – get rid of elderly people when he perceived their time had dome.' Like Bodkin Adams, Shipman was also a general practitioner who became one of the most prolific serial killers in recorded history. He was convicted in 2000 of murdering 15 patients with lethal injections of diamorphine. A public inquiry later found he was responsible for approximately 250 deaths over his career, making him Britain's most notorious medical serial killer before he died by suicide in prison in 2004. For more expert analysis of the macabre, search for An Appointment With Murder - available wherever you get your podcasts now. New episodes released every Wednesday. Can't wait? Subscribe to The Crime Desk to listen to the whole first season ad-free now. An Appointment with Murder will look at poisoners and predators from Victorian times to today, investigating the common thread that runs between these killers hiding behind medical titles. Follow on your favourite podcast platform to never miss an episode.
The Review Geek
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders Review – Who poisoned the pills?
Season 1 Episode Guide Pain Killer The Bitter Pill Sealed For Your Protection Back in 1982, a case rocked the Chicago metropolitan area when seven people died after consuming tainted Tylenol tablets. Upon ingestion, the victims suffered seizures, foamed at the mouth, and subsequently passed away. When examined, the pills were found to be laced with potassium cyanide. This forms the backbone of Netflix's latest cold case docu-series, The Tylenol Murders. With very little to go on and the FBI desperate to crack the case, the three episodes examine the timeline from start to finish, delving into what happened, how it potentially occurred, and the public backlash that followed. Each episode explores a slightly different facet of the case. Episode 1 works as an overview, spotlighting Johnson & Johnson's reaction to their tainted product and the general consensus among police at the time. Episode 2 shifts focus to the prime suspect, James Lewis. A troubled man with a difficult upbringing, Lewis vehemently maintains his innocence — something he calmly reiterates in interview clips here. This chapter attempts to prove (or disprove) his involvement, highlighting the lack of concrete evidence tying him to the crime. The third and final episode closes out with a deeper dive into Johnson & Johnson's role, featuring revealing statements from officers on duty at the time, family members seeking justice, and a suggested FBI bias that leans toward a single narrative — even in the face of uncertainty. While this series doesn't offer definitive closure, The Tylenol Murders does a good job exploring many of the most prominent theories. There's strong insight into Lewis's background, though given the short runtime, some avenues — including alternate suspects — could have been given more attention. One glaring omission is any mention of Stella Nickell. For context, Nickell was sentenced to 90 years in prison for tampering with Excedrin capsules laced with cyanide — a case that closely mirrors the Tylenol poisonings. While it is strongly considered that she's a copycat killer, it still would have been nice to see that brought up here. What is captured well, however, is the raw bias within the FBI. Even in recent interviews, agents remain adamant that Lewis is their guy, despite the case against him being largely circumstantial. It's a striking insight into investigative tunnel vision, and hints strongly that this could have derailed the investigation from the very beginning, all thanks to one incriminating letter. Stylistically, the show weaves together a wide range of talking head interviews — from law enforcement to journalists to grieving families. The variety of voices keeps the narrative dynamic, even if the documentary doesn't quite go as deep as it could have. If there's one persistent gripe though, it comes from the music. The score often feels too upbeat and action-oriented, clashing with the grim, tragic nature of the case. A more subdued, somber composition might have elevated the atmosphere more, and once you notice it, it's hard to ignore. Ultimately, whether we'll ever truly know who was responsible for the tainted Tylenol is still up for debate. But Netflix's latest true-crime offering remains a compelling and worthwhile dive into one of America's most disturbing unsolved cases.
