In an upcoming Netflix documentary, Fred West’s lawyer, Howard Ogden, delves into the chilling account of his visit to Cromwell Street and the haunting moment he witnessed a skeleton being unearthed.
Ogden reflects on the initial disbelief at the magnitude of the murders, with both himself and the authorities presuming there had been only one killing at first. The notorious couple, Fred and Rose West, committed a series of horrifying acts, including torturing, raping, and murdering an indeterminate number of women in Gloucester between 1967 and 1987.
Describing the grim discovery, Ogden recalls, “I’m taken to Cromwell Street to see the remains. So in looking down into this pit, there was the skeleton with the hair in place, black hair.” This eerie experience starkly contrasted with the typical evidence and paperwork encountered in his legal profession. For Ogden, it was a jolting realization of the criminality laid bare before his eyes.
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The shocking unearthing of the skeleton marked a turning point in the investigation. “This was meant to be finding Heather. End of story. It turned out tragically that it was only the beginning,” reports the Mirror.
As the investigations progressed, Fred West confessed to additional murders, ultimately leading to the identification of 12 victims connected to him and Rose West. Serving a life sentence since 1995, Rose West was convicted for the murder of 10 females, including her own daughter Heather, aged 16, and her eight-year-old stepdaughter Charmaine. Fred West, who never faced trial, committed suicide in prison in January 1995 after the discovery of nine sets of bones beneath his house.
The documentary includes previously unheard audio recordings, featuring Fred West discussing his crimes. Titled “Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story,” the series is described by Netflix as the definitive exploration of the lives and crimes of Britain’s most infamous husband-and-wife serial killers.
In addition to Ogden’s rare interview, the series features contributions from Dezra ‘Dez’ Chambers, sister of victim Alison Chambers, who has never spoken publicly before. Other first-time speakers include Sir Brian Leveson, the prosecutor in Rose West’s case, and journalist Rachel Carlyle, who initially reported the story for the local newspaper. Family members of the victims will also provide insight into the enduring anguish they have faced for decades.
Unseen police footage and audio recordings will shed light on how Gloucestershire Police excavated the remains of the Wests' 12 victims to build a case against them.