Serial Killer Project
By Janeera Gonzalez
Fred and Rose West
Rosemary was born November 29, 1953 in Devon, England
Her parents were Bill Letts (schizophrenic) and Daisy Letts (suffered severe depression)
Date of Death January 1, 1995 (Fred)
Overview
Childhood
Fred was called a "mama's boy".
There are claims of possible incest in the family.
Fred was in a motorcycle accident that put him in a coma for a week, led to him having a metal plate operated into his head and breaking one of his legs so badly it was permanently shorter than the other. Afterwards, he got a bad temper and often had violent bursts of anger. Two years after the accident, Fred hurt his head yet again when he stuck his hand up a girl's skirt and she pushed him down from a fire escape. When he was 19, he was convicted of molesting a 13-year-old girl, even though he didn't serve any jail time because his doctor said he suffered from epileptic fits. Afterwards, he was sent to live with his sister and was practically disowned by the rest of his family.
Rose:
She had a very abusive father and a depressed mother.
While her mother was pregnant with her, she was treated in the womb with electroshock therapy.
She was made fun of as a child about her weight.
At the age of 15 she was attracted to older men.
At times she would swing and rock her head for hours.
Marriage
Victims
Charmaine West
Killed in June 1971 by Rosemary West while Fred was in prison. No motive has been put forward.
Daughter of Fred from first marriage
Catherine Costello (Rena)
Killed August 1971. Rena had called to take Charmaine away with her and it is believed
Fred killed her to avoid an investigation into Charmaine’s whereabouts
Ex- Wife
Lynda Gough
Killed April 1973. A lodger at 25 Cromwell St, Gough and Rosemary would share lovers.
Following her disappearance Gough’s mother called to visit and Rosemary, and noticed her wearing her clothes
Carol Ann Cooper
Killed November 1973. Cooper was living in a children’s home in Worcester
when she disappeared while walking home from the cinema.
Lucy Partington
Killed December 1973. Disappeared after leaving to catch a bus home. There is strong evidence that she had been kept alive for at least several days. A week after she disappeared, Fred went to a hospital in the early hours of 3 January 1974 to get a serious laceration stitched. A knife matching the cut was found with Partington's body and police surmise he sustained the injury while dismembering the body.
Therese Siegenthaler
Killed April 1974. A student in South London who left to hitch-hike to Ireland and disappeared.
Shirley Hubbard
Killed November 1974. Left a work to then return home but did not arrive. When her remains were found her head was completely covered in tape with only a three-inch rubber tube inserted to allow her to breath.
Juanita Mott
Killed April 1975. A former lodger at 25 Cromwell St, Mott was living with a friend of her
mother's in Newent when she disappeared.
Shirley Robinson
Killed May 1978. A lodger at 25 Cromwell St, Robinson was a prostitute for the Wests.
Disappeared after becoming pregnant with Fred’s child.
Alison Chambers
Heather West
Killed June 1987. Heather became the focus of Fred’s attentions after Anne Marie left home.
Fred West claimed he had not meant to kill her but "had to take the smirk off her face". Later still Fred would threaten the children that they would "end up under the patio like Heather" if they misbehaved. Heather's body was found under the patio that Fred had inexplicably built over the fishpond his son Stephen had dug.
Ann Mcfall
Last seen in the summer of 1967 when she was thought to be six months pregnant. Her disappearance was not reported to the police. Although no forensic evidence linked Fred West she was missing toes and fingers, and had the same qualities in her murder like the other victims
Mary Bastholm
As well as the 12 confirmed they believe West also killed 15-year-old Mary Bastholm in 1968, but to date no one has been found. West's son, Stephen, has said he firmly believed the missing Gloucester teenager was an early victim of his father, as Fred West had reportedly boasted of committing Miss Bastholme's murder while on remand
in prison during 1994.
Modus Operandi
Classification
Exposed
End of Crimes
On January 1, 1995 he would commit suicide in his cell.
Rose was only charged with 10 murders on November 22, 1995.
She sentenced life in prison without the possibility of parole.