DeepSummary
This episode delves into the horrific crimes of Fred and Rosemary West after Fred met Rose in 1969 when she was just 15 years old. Despite her initial reservations about Fred's appearance and crude behavior, Rose was drawn to the older man and his children, seeing it as an opportunity to play mother. Their relationship led to the disappearance and murder of Fred's daughter Charmaine when she was 8 years old.
After Charmaine's murder, the Wests turned their attention to torturing and killing other young women, including nanny Caroline Owens who managed to escape, and Linda Goff whose mother saw her belongings at the West home after she went missing. The episode details the sadistic nature of their crimes, including wrapping victims' heads in packing tape and the horrific abuse suffered by the children in the household.
Despite the overwhelming evidence of their depravity, the legal system failed to deliver justice initially, with a judge dismissing the assault on Caroline Owens with a mere fine. The episode emphasizes the depths of the Wests' cruelty, their lack of remorse, and the traumatic impact on their victims' families.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Fred and Rosemary West were a sadistic couple who committed horrific crimes, including the torture and murder of young women and children.
- Their crimes were marked by extreme depravity, including wrapping victims' heads in packing tape and subjecting them to sexual abuse and violence.
- The Wests' own children, including Fred's daughter Charmaine, were among their victims and endured severe abuse within the household.
- Despite overwhelming evidence of their crimes, the legal system initially failed to deliver justice, allowing the Wests to continue their horrific acts.
- The episode highlights the traumatic impact of the Wests' crimes on victims' families and the lasting emotional toll on survivors.
- The Wests' crimes exposed societal issues, including the mistreatment of women and the failure to protect vulnerable individuals from predators.
- The case serves as a cautionary tale about the potential for evil to arise when societal safeguards fail and individuals with sadistic tendencies are left unchecked.
- The episode underscores the importance of a robust legal system capable of delivering justice and protecting victims, as well as the need for societal vigilance against such heinous acts.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “She said at times it seemed Rose would intentionally invade her privacy. In moments where she was, like, going to the bathroom, like, taking a shower, like, she would just walk into the room, like, intentionally.“ by Elena
- “Caroline played along at this point in hopes that she might be able to escape.“ by Elena
- “And Rose said, she stayed with us for a little bit, but after a few days, you know, she said something like, she was going to stay at a local hotel, so she's just gone.“ by Elena
- “It made me feel like I wasn't worth anything.“ by Caroline Owens
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Episode Information
Morbid
Morbid Network | Wondery
5/20/24
Part two delves into Fred's life after he met Rose, exploring the origins of the affair leading to their marriage and the beginning of the sadistic crimes that would horrify the world at large.
Thank you to the wondrous Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for Research!
References
Amis, Martin. 2000. When darkness met light. May 11. Accessed March 21, 2024. https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2000/may/11/features11.g2.
BBC News. 1998. Fred West 'admitted killing waitress'. March 25. Accessed March 19, 2024. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/69928.stm.
—. 2001. How many more did Fred West kill? September 27. Accessed March 19, 2024. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1567038.stm.
—. 2021. The 12 victims of Fred and Rosemary West. May 27. Accessed March 18, 2024. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-57182844.
Bennett, Will. 1995. Step-daughter Charmaine was first to die. November 22. Accessed March 19, 2024. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/stepdaughter-charmaine-was-first-to-die-1583071.html.
Birmingham Evening Mail. 1974. "Missing girls theory." Birmingham Evening Mail, January 7: 1.
Birmingham Post. 1968. "Missing waitress mystery deepens." Birmingham Post, January 23: 2.
—. 1974. "Student missing for six days may return ton university-police." Birmingham Post, January 2: 2.
—. 1968. "Yard detectives join search for Gloucester girl." Birmingham Post, January 9: 1.
Campbell, Duncan. 1995. "How a string of girls came to die in depraved and appalling circumstances." The Guardian, October 7.
Duce, Richard. 1995. "West's suicide avenged killings, QC tells jurors." The Times, November 16.
Duce, Richard, and Bill Frost. 1995. "Court told of depravity at 25 Cromwell Street." The Times, October 7: 4.
Evening Post. 1968. "Helicopter joins hunt for Mary." Evening Post, January 8: 1.
Evening Standard. 1974. "Have you spotted this girl?" Evening Standard, July 4: 18.
Frost, Bill. 1995. "Cromwell Street murders case man is dead." The Times, Janaury 2.
Frost, Bill, and Richard Duce. 1995. "I'm being made a scapegoat, says West." The Times, November 2.
—. 1995. "No place for sentiment, West jurors are told." The Times, October 4.
—. 1995. "West: I fell under Fred's spell." The Times, October 31.
Gloucester Echo. 1994. "Did builder know Mary?" Gloucester Echo, March 8: 3.
—. 1994. "Graden bodies: Who were they?" Gloucester Echo, March 2: 1.
Gloucestershire Echo. 1995. "From angelic child to coldest of killers." Gloucestershire Echo 5.
—. 1995. "Fred West found dead." Gloucestershire Echo, January 2: 1.
—. 1995. "I'll see you in court, Rose." Gloucestershire Echo, January 4: 1.
Knight, Adam. 2014. Fred West's brother denies incest claims. November 7. Accessed March 17, 2024. https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/11587578.fred-wests-brother-denies-incest-claims/.
Lee, Adrian, Tim Jones, and Damian Whitworth. 1996. "Fred West's brother hangs himself." The Times, November 29.
Ovington, Paul. 1974. "Hunt steps up as fear grows for Lucy, 21." Western Daily Press and Times, January 4: 1.
Sounes, Howard. 1995. Fred & Rose: The Full Story of Fred and Rose West and the Gloucester House of Horrors. New York, NY: Open Road Media.
United Press International. 1995. "British jury convicts West of 10 murders." UPI Archive, November 22.
West, Mae, and Neil McKay. 2018. Love as Always, Mum: The True and Terrible Story of Surviving a Childhood with Fred and Rose West. London, UK: Seven Dials Press.
Williams, Martin. 1994. "'Our sister is still alive'." Gloucester Echo, February 26: 1.
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