David Fuller
{{for|the politician from Montana, USA|David Fuller (politician)}}
{{Short description|British murderer and necrophile}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox criminal
| name = David Fuller
| image =
| caption = Fuller following his arrest in 2020
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1954|09|04}}
| birth_place = Deal, Kent, England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| education =
| occupation = Hospital electrician (supervisor)
| criminal_charge = Murder, Sexual penetration of a corpse, Possession of extreme pornographic images
| known_for = The Bedsit Murders
| conviction_penalty = Life imprisonment
| conviction_status = Convicted
| conviction = Whole life order
| victims =
| apprehended = 2020
| imprisoned = HMP Frankland
| date = 15 December 2021
| spouse =
| prison =
}}
David Fuller (born 4 September 1954){{cn|date=May 2025}} is an English convicted murderer and necrophile.{{cite news |url=https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/updated-sentence-david-fuller-hospital-electrician-convicted-cold-case-double-murder-and |access-date=15 December 2021 |title=Hospital electrician convicted of cold-case double murder and 51 sexual offences |publisher=Crown Prosecution Service |date=15 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215153948/https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/updated-sentence-david-fuller-hospital-electrician-convicted-cold-case-double-murder-and |archive-date=15 December 2021 |url-status=dead}}
In 2021, he was convicted of the murders of Wendy Knell, 25, and Caroline Pierce, 20, whom he strangled and sexually assaulted after breaking into their homes, months apart in 1987, in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, in what became known as the Bedsit murders.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58250043|access-date=25 January 2022|title=The double murderer who sexually abused the dead for decades|publisher=BBC News |date=4 November 2021}} The killer's DNA had been known since a cold case review in 2007, and analysis of the samples in the two cases would later prove that the murders were committed by the same unidentified perpetrator.{{cite news |title=DNA profile for cold case killer |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/6954760.stm |access-date=8 July 2022 |work=BBC News |date=20 August 2007}}{{cite news |title=David Fuller trial: Advances in DNA analysis caught women's killer |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-59166506 |access-date=8 July 2022 |work=BBC News |date=4 November 2021}} Fuller was eventually identified as the perpetrator in 2020 when a match was made between his DNA and the samples from the case. When finally apprehended Fuller also received 12 years for mortuary offences, having recorded himself abusing the bodies of more than 100 female corpses, over the course of his employment as an electrician at the Kent and Sussex Hospital, also in Tunbridge Wells, and the Tunbridge Wells Hospital in nearby Pembury which replaced it.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order on 15 December 2021, meaning that he will serve his life sentence without the possibility of parole.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-59601656|access-date=15 December 2021|title=Killer who abused mortuary bodies will die in jail |publisher=bbc.co.uk |date=15 December 2021}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-59176555 |title=David Fuller: MPs call for public inquiry into mortuary abuse |date=5 November 2021 |publisher=www.bbc.co.uk |access-date=16 December 2021}}
In October 2021, Fuller was charged with an additional 16 offences committed at mortuaries in the now-closed Kent and Sussex Hospital, and its successor, the Tunbridge Wells hospital at Pembury, between 2007 and 2020,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-63132050 |title=David Fuller: Double murderer charged with more mortuary abuse |publisher=bbc.co.uk |date=4 October 2021 |access-date=26 December 2022}} and pleaded guilty to the charges on 3 November 2022.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-63488309 |title=David Fuller: Double murderer pleads guilty to more mortuary sexual abuse |publisher=bbc.co.uk |date=3 November 2021 |access-date=26 December 2022}} He is imprisoned at HMP Frankland, alongside other prisoners such as Wayne Couzens and Michael Stone.{{cite news |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/behind-the-prison-walls-housing-kents-most-notorious-killer-267663/ |title=Inside HMP Frankland where Wayne Couzens, David Fuller and Michael Stone are locked up |last=Axtell |first=Sean |date=25 May 2022 |access-date=28 December 2022}}
The David Fuller Inquiry
In November 2021 Sajid Javid announced that an independent inquiry would investigate how Fuller's crimes went unnoticed. The inquiry was formally set up in January 2022 with Sir Jonathan Michael chairing, and Rebecca Chaloner supporting as secretary.{{cite web | title=The Inquiry Team – The Independent Inquiry into the issues raised by the David Fuller case | website=The Independent Inquiry into the issues raised by the David Fuller case | url=https://fullerinquiry.wpenginepowered.com/the-inquiry-team/ | ref={{sfnref | The Independent Inquiry into the issues raised by the David Fuller case}} | access-date=15 July 2024}}{{cite web | title=David Fuller: Independent inquiry announced into mortuary abuse | website=BBC News | date=8 November 2021 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-59207611 | ref={{sfnref | BBC News | 2021}} | access-date=15 July 2024}} The inquiry was split into two phases, with Phase 1 focusing on Fuller's offenses at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. Phase 2 would focus on the entire NHS and what procedures could be put in place to protect the deceased in the future.{{cite web | title=FAQs – The Independent Inquiry into the issues raised by the David Fuller case | website=The Independent Inquiry into the issues raised by the David Fuller case | date=28 November 2023 | url=https://fuller.independent-inquiry.uk/faqs/ | ref={{sfnref | The Independent Inquiry into the issues raised by the David Fuller case | 2023}} | access-date=15 July 2024}}
The Phase 1 report was published on the 28th of November 2023, making 17 recommendations to prevent similar crimes happening again within the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Trust. Two hundred witnesses were interviewed or submitted written evidence.{{cite web | title=Phase 1 – The Independent Inquiry into the issues raised by the David Fuller case | website=The Independent Inquiry into the issues raised by the David Fuller case | date=28 November 2023 | url=https://fuller.independent-inquiry.uk/report/ | ref={{sfnref | The Independent Inquiry into the issues raised by the David Fuller case | 2023}} | access-date=15 July 2024}} It was found that Fuller regularly worked beyond his contracted hours, and undertook tasks that were unnecessary.{{cite web | last=Rawlinson | first=Kevin | title=NHS failings enabled necrophiliac murderer to offend for 15 years, inquiry finds | website=the Guardian | date=28 November 2023 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/nov/28/david-fuller-hospital-failings-necrophiliac-murderer-offend-inquiry | access-date=15 July 2024}}
Personal life
Fuller was born in Deal, Kent, England and was married three times.{{cn|date=May 2025}}
He was interested in birdwatching, cycling, live music and photography. He was an unofficial photographer for London rock band Cutting Crew and in 1985 accompanied them on tour with his second wife Sally.{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/david-fuller-sentence-trial-family-kent-morgue-b971925.html |title=David Fuller: the story of the 'morgue monster' whose crimes repulsed |last=Kirk |first=Tristan |date=15 December 2021 |work='Evening Standard |url-access=registration |access-date=28 December 2022}}
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fuller, David}}
Category:20th-century British criminals
Category:British male criminals
Category:British people convicted of murder
Category:British prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment
Category:History of mental health in the United Kingdom
Category:People convicted of murder by England and Wales
Category:Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by England and Wales
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