Summary:
- Rose West and husband Fred West were convicted of murdering multiple women, including their daughter.
- Their crimes spanned over 20 years, with victims buried in and around their Gloucester home.
- Rose is currently serving a life sentence without parole at HM Prison New Hall.
Rose West is one of the most infamous serial killers in British history. Along with her husband, Fred West, she committed a series of brutal murders over two decades. The couple’s horrific crimes only came to light after a lengthy police investigation, and today, Rose West is serving a life sentence with no possibility of parole.
Who Is Rose West and What Was Her Early Life Like?
Born Rosemary Letts in 1953, Rose West grew up in North Devon, England. Her early years were marked by troubling family dynamics. Her mother received electroconvulsive therapy while pregnant with her, which some speculate contributed to Rose’s erratic behavior. Author Jane Carter-Woodrow detailed how Rose was sexually abused by her father, who likely suffered from paranoid schizophrenia.
At 15, Rose met Fred West, a man 12 years older than her with a disturbing past. He was already a father of two and quickly made Rose the nanny to his children. The relationship turned romantic, and Rose moved in with Fred, beginning a life of abuse and murder that would span decades.
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Who Was Fred West and What Was His Criminal History?
Fred West had a long history of violent and sexual offenses. As a teenager, he suffered head trauma from two major accidents, which reportedly altered his personality. In 1961, he was accused by his sister of rape and incest, though the case was later dropped.
Fred married Catherine “Rena” Costello in 1962. After a tumultuous relationship involving another woman and multiple children, Rena eventually left Fred. However, one of her friends, Anne McFall, stayed behind. In 1967, McFall, who was pregnant with Fred’s child, disappeared. Her remains were found decades later, confirming Fred had murdered her.
When Fred met Rose, his violent tendencies escalated. Together, they began one of the most gruesome killing sprees in UK history.
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What Was Rose West’s First Known Murder?
Rose gave birth to her first child with Fred in 1970. When Fred was jailed for theft soon after, Rose was left alone with his children. During this period, she murdered 8-year-old Charmaine West, Fred’s stepdaughter. Fred later buried Charmaine’s body beneath the kitchen window of their Gloucester home.
Soon after Fred’s release, Rena Costello disappeared. Her body was found dismembered and buried in a field, close to where Anne McFall’s remains had been discovered. These were the early murders that marked the beginning of a horrifying pattern.
How Many Victims Did Rose and Fred West Kill?
The couple is officially linked to the murders of 12 women, including two of their own daughters. Their spree began in 1973, luring young women to their home under the pretense of offering nanny jobs. The victims were then sexually assaulted, tortured, and murdered. Their bodies were buried under the house and in the garden.
In one early case, hitchhiker Caroline Owens was abducted and assaulted by the couple but managed to escape. Fred and Rose were arrested but charges were dropped after Owens chose not to testify. The couple resumed their killing spree, which lasted until the late 1980s.
Among the victims were Lynda Gough, Carole Ann Cooper, Lucy Partington, Therese Siegenthaler, Shirley Hubbard, Juanita Mott, Shirley Anne Robinson, and Alison Chambers. Their final known victim was their 16-year-old daughter Heather, murdered in 1987 and buried under the patio.
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How Were Fred and Rose West Finally Caught?
The investigation began when their daughter Louise confided in a friend about years of sexual abuse. Police were alerted and searched the Wests’ home. Louise and her half-sister Anna Marie both detailed years of abuse, confirming suspicions of family-wide victimization.
Detectives grew suspicious when Fred and Rose gave conflicting accounts about Heather’s whereabouts. A disturbing family joke that Heather was “under the patio” led to a police excavation. In 1994, Fred confessed to the murder, and Heather’s remains were uncovered. He also admitted to killing several others.
Despite Fred’s claims that Rose had no involvement, police charged her as more evidence emerged. By the time of their arrests in 1994, 12 murder victims had been identified.
What Happened During Rose West’s Trial?
Rose was charged with 10 counts of murder, while Fred faced 12. Before the trial could begin, Fred died by suicide in prison on January 1, 1995.
Rose’s trial commenced in October 1995. Despite pleading not guilty and claiming to be another of Fred’s victims, multiple witnesses testified against her. Survivors like Anna Marie and Caroline Owens gave detailed accounts of the abuse and violence they endured.
Fred’s confidant Janet Leach testified that Fred had admitted Rose played a major role in the murders. The trial lasted seven weeks, and Rose was convicted on all 10 counts of murder. She received a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
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Where Is Rose West Today?
Rose West is currently incarcerated at HM Prison New Hall in West Yorkshire. She has moved facilities multiple times due to threats from other inmates. Despite the conviction, Rose continues to maintain her innocence.
After an unsuccessful appeal, she sought help from the Criminal Cases Review Commission in 2000 but later withdrew her application. As of 2011, Rose reportedly spends her time in prison listening to music, playing board games, and teaching other inmates how to cross-stitch.
The home at 25 Cromwell Street, where most of the murders occurred, was demolished in 1996.
When Did the Netflix Documentary on Fred and Rose West Release?
The Netflix docuseries Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story premiered on May 14, 2025.
Source: People
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