Frederick Walter Stephen West, sometimes known as Fred West, was a British serial murderer who committed at least 12 killings in Gloucestershire between 1967 and 1987. Numerous murders were motivated by Fred’s sexual depravity; there was a pattern of rape, bondage, and torture before the crimes. He had a sexual interest in two of his daughters and tortured and murdered them with the assistance of his wife. The pair was detained multiple times but was acquitted owing to a shortage of evidence. On January 1 1995, while incarcerated on remand at HM Prison Birmingham, West asphyxiated to death. At the time, he and Rose were jointly charged with nine murders, and he was charged with three further killings.
Quick Facts
| Celebrated Name | Fred West |
|---|---|
| Age | 80 Years |
| Nick Name | Fred |
| Birth Name | Frederick Walter Stephen West |
| Birth Date | 1941-09-29 |
| Gender | Male |
| Profession | British Murder Suspect |
| Nationality | British |
| Place Of Birth | Much Marcle, Herefordshire, England |
| Birth Nation | England |
| Ethnicity | British-white |
| Race | White |
| Religion | Christian |
| Horoscope | Libra |
| Father | Walter Stephen West (1914-1992) |
| Mother | Daisy Hannah Hill (1922-1968) |
| Brothers | John West |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Catherine Costello (m. 1962; murdered 1971), Rosemary Letts (m. 1972) |
| Children | 5 |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
| Source of Wealth | Serial killer career |
| Body Type | Average |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark brown |
Biography and Early Life
Fred West was born Frederick Walter Stephen West in Much Marcle, Herefordshire, England, on September 29, 1941. By nationality, he was British; by ethnic origin, he was British-white. Similarly, he was a Christian and a white man. Fred’s 53rd birthday was last celebrated in September 1994. His zodiac sign, according to his birthdate, was Libra. West was the first surviving child of Walter Stephen West (1914-1992) and Daisy Hannah Hill (1914-1992). (1922-1968). Fred came from a poor farm worker family that was close-knit and protective of one another; his father was a disciplinarian, and his mother was too defensive. By 1951, West’s mother had had eight children, six of whom survived; yet, Fred was always his mother’s favorite.
When classmates discuss Fred’s education, they describe him as untidy, dumb, lazy, and frequently in trouble. He remained illiterate throughout his life but demonstrated an ability for carpentry and artwork. At 15, he dropped out of school in December 1956 and began working as a laborer at Moorcourt Farm.
Fred West Height and Weight
Fred West was of perfect height and weight. He had dark brown eyes and black hair. Fred’s physique was average.
Fred West Prostitution
Rose began working as a prostitute immediately after the birth of her second child, operating out of an upstairs room in their home and advertising her services in a local contact magazine. Fred urged Rose to use this advertising to seek clientele in Gloucester’s West Indian population. Along with prostitution, Rose indulged in casual sex with both male and female lodgers and individuals Fred met through his profession; she also boasted to multiple people that neither man nor woman could fulfill her.
By 1977, Rose’s father had developed grudging regard for Fred and had come to accept his daughter’s marriage. When Bill Letts learned of Rose’s prostitution, he paid visits to have sex with his daughter. By 1983, she had given birth to eight children, at least three of whom were the product of client conception. Fred readily adopted these children and told them their skin was darker than their siblings’ because his great-grandmother was a black woman.
Fred West Domestic abuse
When each of the West children reached the age of seven, they were assigned numerous daily chores to complete around the house; they were rarely permitted to socialize outside the household perimeters unless one of their parents was present; and they were required to adhere to strict guidelines imposed by their parents, with severe punishment—almost always physical—meant for breaking household rules.
The children feared being the victims of their parents’ violence, the majority of which was inflicted by Rose and infrequently by Fred. The violence was occasionally illogical, indiscreet, or imposed only for Rose’s satisfaction; she always cared not to mark the children’s faces or hands during these assaults.
Fred was periodically the target of his wife’s abuse. In August 1974, Rose pursued Fred with a carving knife in her hand; Fred was able to slam shut the door to the room into which he had fled as Rose lunged at him with the knife, resulting in the knife embedding itself in the door and three of Rose’s fingers sliding down the blade, nearly severing them from her hand.
Fred West Sexual attacks at their inception
In September 1972, the Wests escorted eight-year-old Anna Marie down the cellar of 25 Cromwell Street, where the youngster was instructed to strip, with Rose ripping her clothes from her body upon observing the kid’s reluctance.
Caroline Owens, 17, was appointed as the West’s children’s nanny in October 1972. They had snatched her up on a remote country road while she was hitchhiking from Tewkesbury to her Cinderford home after visiting her boyfriend.
Fred West Murders
They are not known to have committed any other killings until May 1978, when Fred murdered Shirley Robinson. In 1979, they murdered Alison Chambers, 16, who had escaped from a local children’s home.
Fred West Net worth
Fred West was an English serial killer with a net worth of thousands of dollars before his death but did not disclose his salary. He paid £7,000 to the council for the house. West had never worked as an endorser for a brand. Additionally, his primary source of revenue came from his serial killer career.
Fred West Wife, Marriage, Children
Fred and Rosemary married on January 29, 1972, and when Rose became pregnant with her second child, the couple relocated from Midland Road to 25 Cromwell Street. Rose gave birth to her second daughter on June 1. Fred and Rose named the kid Mae June due to her birth date.
