UK - Gracie Spinks, 23, possible murder suicide, Duckmanton, Derbyshire, 18 June 2021

[Silverlink]

Police are investigating a suspected murder-suicide after the bodies of a 23-year-old woman and man in his 30s were found within hours of each other in fields near a Derbyshire village.

The woman was found injured in a field near Staveley Road in Duckmanton at about 8.40am on Friday.

Paramedics attended, however the woman sadly died at the scene.

She has been named in reports as keen horse rider Gracie Spinks.

Derbyshire Constabulary refused to comment on reports suggesting she had been pestered by a stalker prior to her death.

The force said the man’s body was found in a field off Tom Lane at about 11am on Friday.

Police probe suspected murder-suicide in Derbyshire village

 

[Silverlink]

Police explore whether Derbyshire deaths are result of stalking

Police investigating the deaths of a 23-year-old woman and a man in his 30s are probing whether the incident was the result of stalking.

The deaths occurred within hours of each other in fields near the Derbyshire village of Duckmanton on Friday.

Paramedics were called after a young woman was found with stab wounds in a field near stables but were unable to save her. She was pronounced dead at the scene. She was named locally as keen equestrian Gracie Spinks.

Friends of the victims suggested Spinks had recently been hounded by a stalker and had taken out a restraining order against him.

Derbyshire police said a man’s body was found in a field in another part of the village nearly three hours later.

The force said officers are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths. It refused to comment on the stalking allegations, saying the investigation was ongoing.

If stalking is found to be a factor in the killing, it will add to pressure on the government to create a stalkers register – a measure controversially omitted from the domestic abuse bill which gained royal assent earlier this year.

The Home Office was accused of betraying victims after abandoning moves to create an automatic register of dangerous domestic abusers and stalkers.

Instead, the government promised to improve statutory guidance around the current system for monitoring high-risk criminals to better include serial stalkers and domestic abusers.

 

[Silverlink]

Derbyshire Police force refers itself to watchdog over Gracie Spinks murder probe | Daily Mail Online

The police watchdog has been contacted over the investigation into the death of a model who was killed in an apparent murder suicide.

Gracie Spinks, 23, was found dead in the picturesque village of Duckmanton in Derbyshire on Friday morning.

Derbyshire Police has now confirmed it has referred itself to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) but has declined to confirm the reason for the referral.

In the wake of her death, it was revealed Ms Spinks had been bothered by a man who friends said was 'obsessed with her'.

One source claimed Ms Spinks had obtained a restraining order against the unknown man after he kept turning up at the stables where she went riding.

Yesterday it also emerged that a walker found a backpack filled with a cache of weapons on a farmer's track just 100 yards away from where she was killed.

The walker took the backpack to her local police station but was told nothing could be done.

It is not clear if the referral to the IOPC is because of prior contact with Ms Spinks and an alleged stalker or because of the weapons that were handed in which Derbyshire Police have not confirmed is linked to Ms Spinks' death.

 

[Silverlink]

Media are reporting that 35-year-old Michael Sellars is the killer.

Gracie Spinks murder probe: Man named as 'stalker' who is believed to have killed 23-year-old model | Daily Mail Online

 

[Rosegold68]

How bloody horrific!

 

[Donnie McG]

That is such a tragic story, a real shame.

 

[Gibbo214]

He was stalking her and the police did nothing.

 

[KarenUK]

He was stalking her and the police did nothing.

How many times have we heard that now.....

 

[MissUnderstood]

How many times have we heard that now.....

those pieces of paper to keep people away from you are worthless! There really should be some kind of register! Moo

 

[Silverlink]

Family's heart-breaking tribute to 23-year-old model killed in horrific 'murder-suicide' by 'loner' | Daily Mail Online

The heartbroken parents of 23-year-old model Gracie Spinks last night paid tribute to their 'beautiful' daughter, who is believed to have been killed by her stalker who allegedly became obsessed with the horse enthusiast after just one date and could not cope when she rejected him.

Miss Spinks' parents Alison Heaton and Richard Spinks both added a frame to their Facebook profile pictures after midnight which read: '#Stop Violence Against Women #Justice For Women'.

Her mother Mrs Heaton swapped the image for a photo of Miss Spinks and wrote: 'My beautiful daughter Gracie, taken away from me, her dad and brother and sister, and everyone who loved and cared for her'.

Miss Spinks, who studied art and design at Chesterfield College and lived in Old Whittington, worked as a packer at e-commerce firm Xbite with suspected killer Michael Sellars, and occasionally modelled for a London agency.

Her body was discovered in a paddock in the picturesque village of Duckmanton, Derbyshire on Friday morning. Derbyshire Police said a man was later found dead half a mile away and they are not looking for any other suspects - indicating a possible murder-suicide.

Colleagues described Sellars, 35, as a 'loner' and a 'weirdo' who became 'so obsessed with her' that he 'wouldn't leave her alone' and allegedly turned up at the stables where she went riding. One source claimed Miss Spinks even obtained a restraining order against him.

Sellars is said to have lived with his parents and was not known to have ever had a girlfriend. He is also said to have been sacked by Xbite just six months earlier amid concerns over his conduct - reportedly towards other staff. MailOnline has approached Xbite for further information.

One employee claimed Miss Spinks' suspected killer 'just flipped' and killed her', adding: 'The man used to work here. I knew him - many of us did. We knew Gracie and it is very upsetting. It's going around that she had a stalker who was totally obsessed with her. It's the man who worked here who just flipped and killed her.

 

[Silverlink]

Gracie Spinks post-mortem has revealed that she died from a stab wound to the neck, which cut through her carotid artery, jugular vein and cervical spine. There is no evidence of a sexual assault.

Michael Sellers' death was "self-inflicted", as a result of starving his body of oxygen.

Gracie Spinks: 23-year-old died from stab wound to neck

 

[muggles63]

Stalkers in the UK are pretty much free to do what they want, I have had mine since 2012 and the police do nothing, as he hasn't hurt me. It is not a crime to sit outside someone's house or to follow them. All I have been told to do is, ignore him and he will stop, 9 years on, he is still about.

 

[Luwin]

Stalkers in the UK are pretty much free to do what they want, I have had mine since 2012 and the police do nothing, as he hasn't hurt me. It is not a crime to sit outside someone's house or to follow them. All I have been told to do is, ignore him and he will stop, 9 years on, he is still about.

Gosh so sorry to hear that @muggles63, must be terrible for you and its dreadful nothing can be done x

 

[Legally Bland]

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating contact between Derbyshire Police and Gracie Spinks before she died.

We received a referral from the force because their officers had contact with her in the months before her death on 18 June.

We understand Ms Spinks, 23, made contact with Derbyshire Police in February to make an allegation of stalking and that officers spoke to her and the man whose behaviour she had reported.

Investigation into police contact with Gracie Spinks before her death | Independent Office for Police Conduct

 

[cluciano63]

This is such a tragic loss of life…I have had a stalker as well and it is traumatizing and life-altering. What should have police done? What could a register have done in this case? I am asking honestly as am not sure sure what can be done before any crime takes place. it seems everyone around her was aware. Responses welcome…

 

[muggles63]

This is such a tragic loss of life…I have had a stalker as well and it is traumatizing and life-altering. What should have police done? What could a register have done in this case? I am asking honestly as am not sure sure what can be done before any crime takes place. it seems everyone around her was aware. Responses welcome…

That is the exact problem until the stalker actually does something, the police can do nothing. Police speaking to a stalker seems to make the stalker up their game, so to speak. I wish there was an answer to it, I have not found it, and feel for anyone who has to live with one.

 

[Legally Bland]

Update on investigation into Derbyshire Constabulary contact with Gracie Spinks before her death

Published
26 Nov 2021

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has made good progress on our investigation into police contact with Gracie Spinks prior to her death in Duckmanton, Derbyshire earlier this year.

We are investigating the circumstances of contact between Ms Spinks, 23, and Derbyshire Constabulary in the months leading up to her death on 18 June 2021.

Ms Spinks had contacted the force in February this year to make an allegation of stalking, and officers spoke to her and the man whose behaviour she had reported.

Our investigation is considering whether the force carried out all its safeguarding obligations to Ms Spinks and whether its investigation into the stalking matter was carried out in accordance with relevant police guidelines and policies.

We are also looking into the actions and decision making of police following the discovery of a bag, containing a hammer, an axe and some knives, in May this year. The bag had been found close to where Ms Spinks died several weeks later, and its discovery was reported to the force.

Based on the evidence we have assessed to date; we have served a gross misconduct notice on a police sergeant and misconduct notices on two constables in relation to what steps were taken after the bag was found and reported on May 6 and collected by police. We have also served misconduct notices on a separate police sergeant and constable concerning how the investigation into the stalking and harassment allegation was handled.

IOPC Regional Director, Derrick Campbell said: “We have made good progress, but our investigation is ongoing and there is more work still to do. After consideration of evidence so far, we have reached a stage where we have now served disciplinary notices on five officers. The purpose of such notices is to advise officers their conduct is subject to investigation, and do not necessarily mean that disciplinary proceedings will follow. The serving of notices will be kept under review. We aren’t able to provide more detail at present, but we appreciate the impact Gracie’s death has had on the local community and beyond and the importance of keeping people updated with our investigation’s progress.

“We are keeping Gracie’s family informed and we note the work they have undertaken with others to campaign for Gracie’s Law to help better protect victims of stalking.”

Update on investigation into Derbyshire Constabulary contact with Gracie Spinks before her death | Independent Office for Police Conduct

 

[Luwin]

The parents of a woman thought to have been killed by a former colleague who stalked her say "it's time for a change" to protect stalking victims.

Gracie Spinks, 23, was found fatally injured in a field, in Duckmanton, Derbyshire, on 18 June 2021.

It is thought Michael Sellers, 35, who was found dead nearby shortly afterwards, stabbed her to death.

A petition calling for Gracie's Law to help protect people who report stalking could now be debated by MPs.

The petition, which calls for stricter punishments for stalkers, has now passed 100,000 signatures and could be potentially discussed in parliament.

Gracie Spinks death: Parents of 'stalking victim' call for law change

 

[Luwin]

A march calling for an end to violence against women is being held with the backing of the parents of murdered young woman Gracie Spinks.

The march is taking place in Chesterfield in Derbyshire, where the 23-year-old lived.

Her parents, Alison Heaton and Richard Spinks, will be attending and said the march had their full support.

It is due to begin at Shentall Gardens at 11:00 GMT, and people have been asked to wear purple.

Gracie Spinks' parents support march against violence

 

[Luwin]

Gracie Spinks: Receipt could have traced killer - family

The parents of a young woman who was killed by her stalker believe she would still be alive if police had "done their job properly".

Six weeks before Gracie Spinks was stabbed to death in June 2021, two walkers found a bag of weapons near the scene and gave it to police.

Her parents have now been told the bag contained a shop receipt that linked back to killer Michael Sellers.

It was a very, very sinister bag of weapons, including Rambo-style knives, axe, blades, Viagra, a note, and they just logged it as lost property," said Gracie's mother Alison Heaton.

"We now know that bag directly led straight back to Michael Sellers. There was a receipt in there that led back to his household."

Mrs Heaton said they had been told about the receipt - which had card payment details printed on it - by police.

"They traced it back to that house after her death. It should have been traced back to that household back on 6 May [when the bag was found]," she said.