Inside Fred And Rosemary West's Yard Full Of Dead Bodies
In 1987, 16-year-old Heather West went missing without a trace from her parents' home on Cromwell Street in Gloucester, England (via BBC). With no other leads, detectives suspected Heather's father, Fred, and her mother, Rosemary — who went by the nickname Rose.
As reported by Biography, Fred West had a sordid history, which included accusations of theft and the sexual abuse of minors. He also had several previous criminal convictions, including petty theft, fleeing authorities, and child molestation. Fred was the primary suspect in at least eight assaults. However, his connection with the assaults was never proven.
Rose began dating Fred when she was a teenager. Biography reports both of Rose's parents struggled with mental illness and had violent tempers. Rose herself eventually developed an aggressive nature and was known to have an explosive temper. Amid the investigation into Heather's disappearance, and several other unexplained disappearances in the region, authorities conducted a search of the Wests' home in August 1992. According to Biography, the officers found a disturbing collection of pornography and enough evidence to charge Fred with the rape and sodomy of a minor. Rose was also arrested and charged with assisting her husband with the abuse and rape of a minor.
If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.
If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.
Fred and Rosemary West were suspected in several deaths
Although authorities had enough evidence to charge Fred and Rose West with the physical and sexual abuse of Fred's daughter from his first marriage, Anna Marie, the case against the Wests did not lead to any convictions. Biography reports their children, who were the primary witnesses, resisted speaking out against their parents and did not cooperate with prosecutors.
Law enforcement officials strongly suspected the Wests were also responsible for the disappearances of Fred's daughter Charmaine, who was also from his first marriage, as well as Heather, who he had with Rose. Amid further investigation into Heather and Charmaine's disappearances, authorities obtained another search warrant for the Wests' home and property. On February 25, 1994, the Independent reports that Fred and Rose West were both arrested for Heather's disappearance and likely death. The following day, authorities found remains in the Wests' yard, which were later determined to be Heather's.
Three days later, two more bodies were uncovered in Fred and Rose West's backyard. The victims were later identified as Alison Chambers and Shirley Anne Robinson.
If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.
Fred West was charged with 12 murders
As reported by Independent, Shirley Ann Robinson was 18 years old and pregnant when she disappeared. Prior to her disappearance, she had been renting a room in Fred and Rose West's home. The U.S. Sun reports Alison Chambers was a runaway, who was employed as the Wests' nanny when she vanished. When authorities confronted Fred West about Chambers and Robinson, he confessed to killing both of the victims and burying their remains in the yard. He also insisted he committed the murders himself and that Rose did not participate in or have any knowledge of the crimes. According to Biography, Rose was happy to deny any involvement.
While in police custody, Fred confessed that a total of nine women were buried in his cellar and in the yard surrounding his home. However, he did not reveal all of their identities. As reported by the Independent, in addition to Robinson, Chambers, and Heather West, authorities eventually identified the other victims as Carole Ann Cooper, Lynda Gough, Shirley Hubbard, Juanita Mott, Lucy Partington, and Therese Siegenthaler. Per CNN, he was charged with 12 counts of murder.
If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.
He buried some of his victims at other locations
The U.S. Sun reports Carole Ann Cooper and Shirley Hubbard were only 15 years at the time of their abductions and subsequent deaths. Lynda Gough was a tenant in the Wests' home when she was killed and eventually buried in the yard. Juanita Mott was also a tenant of the Wests when she was killed. Elsewhere, Lucy Partington is believed to have been abducted by the Wests while she was waiting at a bus stop, and Therese Siegenthaler is believed to have been abducted while hitchhiking.
As reported by Biography, Fred West also revealed that his daughter Charmaine, his first wife Rena, and his former lover Anna McFall were buried at other locations. The U.S. Sun reports Charmaine's remains were found buried at a home on Midland Road, and the bodies of Rena West and her unborn child were found at Letterbox Field. McFall's remains were found at Fingerpost Field.
If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.
He died in jail while awaiting trial
Fred West was ultimately charged with 12 counts of murder. Although Rose West maintained she was innocent, she was arrested and charged with 10 counts of murder. As reported by Biography, Fred died by suicide on January 1, 1995, while he was awaiting trial.
During Rose's trial, which began on October 3, 1995, several witnesses, including her own daughter, testified that she participated in the abduction and sexual abuse of many of the victims. However, it was Rose's own testimony during cross-examination and her behavior on the stand ultimately sealed her fate. Biography reports Rose was convicted on 10 counts of murder. She was ultimately sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years. Years later, her sentence was modified to a "whole life order," which made her ineligible for parole (via Biography).
Rose filed appeals in 1996 and 2000. However, they were unsuccessful. As of 2022, she remains incarcerated for her heinous crimes.
If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.
There might be more victims
Although authorities recovered 12 bodies in their search for the Wests' victims, The U.S. Sun reports Fred West confessed to killing 30 people. No other information was found implicating the Wests in more than the 12 murders law enforcement officials were aware of.
In recent years, a documentary crew followed a handler with his cadaver dog to one of the locations where the Wests' victims were found buried. Although the dog appeared to indicate there may have been one or more remaining corpses on the property, authorities have not verified that claim.
The West's former home, which became known as the "House of Horrors," was demolished in October 1996. Biography reports the property remains uninhabited and serves as a walking path to the town center.
If you or someone you know may be the victim of child abuse, please contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or contact their live chat services.