GUILTY UK - Helen Bailey, 51, Royston, 11 April 2016 #1

[Elainera]

Do you mean this one? Because I took it to mean they had been doing that since Helen disappeared, not necessarily during yesterday. Then again you might have meant they didn't suspect him prior to his arrest..

[FONT=&]"One of Helen’s close friends, who did not want to be named, yesterday told how people had been cooking food and dropping it off for Mr Stewart to make sure he was eating."
[/FONT]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/police-dig-up-garden-search-8408857

Sounds like they didn't suspect him/brought him food before the arrest.

 

[faybradshaw]

I think you're right. Yes, its the same article where it mentions friends dropping food off. The article dates yesterday, so I thought that they were referring to yesterday, after he got bail.

 

[Tortoise]

Ian Stewart, 55, spent two weeks in Majorca after going ahead with a pre-booked break despite Helen Bailey not being seen for three months.

Officers confirmed that money belonging to Miss Bailey was taken from her account after she vanished.

Yesterday a neighbour who lives close to their home in Royston, Hertfordshire, told The Sun: “Ian only got back from Spain a few days ago.
He was there for a fortnight.
“It had been booked with Helen months ago and he decided to go ahead with the break.
................
Friends said the timing had put extra strain on her relationship. One pal said: “It was always hard at this time of year – but it must have been incredibly difficult with everything else going on. I think that’s why Helen told friends she could leave Ian.”
.......................

Father of two Mr Stewart found his first wife Diane collapsed in the garden of their home after she suffered a fatal brain aneurysm.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/14349...rested-after-returning-from-two-week-holiday/

Just a few snippets, more at link.

 

[Tortoise]

I'm not sure how the Sun knows Diane Stewart's cause of death was a brain aneurysm. Then again I can't find the source of the information I read previously saying it was an epileptic seizure. I've done quite a bit of searching yesterday to no avail, but I know I did read that.

 

[Tortoise]

I think if she'd left her handbag behind and disappeared on the walk, it would have been quickly discovered by her partner and LE. Then there's the note, one wouldn't leave it out until actually leaving, nothing more awkward than walking in on your partner reading your 'I've run away from home' note. Not to mention the mysterious thousands of pounds that she surely wouldn't take dog walking.

Here are the questions that stand out in this case to me, aside from the obvious one of what happened to her:
1. Was it her partner who claimed to LE that they were recently engaged, though no one else has publicly confirmed it?
2. Why would she leave him a note saying she was taking time to herself in Broadstairs if they'd recently got engaged?
3. Why didn't he become concerned about her until several days had passed - recently engaged people do not go days without news or contact.
4. Why would she take her phone but keep it turned off even as she left the house.
5. What's with this large sum of cash that she may have taken but no one's sure.
6. Why, after being missing for a month without turning her phone or accessing her money would he write her a note, asking her to "listen carefully". "We promised each other 30 years please keep that promise and come home. Whatever has happened, wherever you are I will come and get you and Boris". Although the papers called it 'heartfelt', it actually sounds extremely possessive to me.

With you totally.

 

[Cinnalauda]

Updated a few minutes ago.

Police dig garden of missing author’s £1.2million home after questioning her fiance, 55, on suspicion of murder as officers confirm cash went missing from her account AFTER she disappeared

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...t-man-55-suspicion-murder-disposing-body.html


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

"The computer software expert, who has two sons, is thought to have travelled to Majorca on holiday at the beginning of June – a trip which was booked for himself and Miss Bailey before she vanished three months ago."

Holy hell, what? If that doesn't look like suspicious behavior I don't know what does. Who on Earth would go off on holiday if their loved one was missing and might come back? Vile. He knew she wouldn't be coming back.

 

[Tortoise]

No criticism here AT ALL, I'm chomping at the bit myself, but I suppose we have to be careful until/unless there are any further developments.

 

[Tortoise]

I know, let's put this in for some balance

"Yesterday Mr Stewart’s former mother-in-law, Noreen Lem, said she was stunned by his arrest.
She added: ‘Ian was married to my daughter for over 20 years and he was a very kind man who was loving to my daughter and their sons James and Oliver.
‘I couldn’t imagine him doing something as horrible as this. I can’t begin to imagine what the boys are going through right now.’"


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...cion-murder-disposing-body.html#ixzz4EHPDAOYv

 

[neteditor]

I think if she'd left her handbag behind and disappeared on the walk, it would have been quickly discovered by her partner and LE. Then there's the note, one wouldn't leave it out until actually leaving, nothing more awkward than walking in on your partner reading your 'I've run away from home' note. Not to mention the mysterious thousands of pounds that she surely wouldn't take dog walking.

<snipped>

These are the crucial points for me, thank you for bringing those front centre. I was failing to see the big picture

You are absolutely right of course, the dog walk disappearance is a no-go. So that leaves only one other option.

 

[neteditor]

Sounds like they didn't suspect him/brought him food before the arrest.

I know someone who was friends with both parties through the bereavement Facebook group they met on. Let's just say she and others will be shocked to the core if IS has had anything to do with this. They are all hoping the police have made a terrible mistake. My friends says he is a very gentle man.

 

[neteditor]

No criticism here AT ALL, I'm chomping at the bit myself, but I suppose we have to be careful until/unless there are any further developments.

Very strictly speaking, by the letter of the law, sub judice starts when an arrest is made (or an arrest warrant issued). However in practice cases tend to be considered active only when someone is charged (or if the police say someone is about to be charged).

Right now it doesn't look like charges are imminent.

ETA: I am staggered he went on holiday without her. How could anyone do that? I'd spend every second of the holiday miserable and stressed thinking about how we should have been together. I agree this is very suspicious behaviour.

 

[Tortoise]

I love the way that police put up metal fencing so the press get in their helicopters

 

[Tortoise]

Very strictly speaking, by the letter of the law, sub judice starts when an arrest is made (or an arrest warrant issued). However in practice cases tend to be considered active only when someone is charged (or if the police say someone is about to be charged).

Right now it doesn't look like charges are imminent.

ETA: I am staggered he went on holiday without her. How could anyone do that? I'd spend every second of the holiday miserable and stressed thinking about how we should have been together. I agree this is very suspicious behaviour.

I was thinking more from the perspective of the rules of this forum.

 

[Alyce]

I'm not sure how the Sun knows Diane Stewart's cause of death was a brain aneurysm. Then again I can't find the source of the information I read previously saying it was an epileptic seizure. I've done quite a bit of searching yesterday to no avail, but I know I did read that.

I also read about the epileptic seizure but cant find the link now

 

[Alyce]

"The computer software expert, who has two sons, is thought to have travelled to Majorca on holiday at the beginning of June &#8211; a trip which was booked for himself and Miss Bailey before she vanished three months ago."

Holy hell, what? If that doesn't look like suspicious behavior I don't know what does. Who on Earth would go off on holiday if their loved one was missing and might come back? Vile. He knew she wouldn't be coming back.

Oh dear. I find that rather cold and callous, even if the person had nothing whatsoever to do with Helen's disappearance.
I do remember reading ( on FB ) someone posted - about a month or more ago - that they knew Helen had booked a dog minding service because she was due to go on holiday. Presumably this is the holiday.
If there was a concern about losing the money paid !!!! although I have to say that would be the least of my concerns - then why not give the holiday to family or friends.

 

[Alyce]

I love the way that police put up metal fencing so the press get in their helicopters

Indeed - cant stop the press.

However, from a sleuthing point of view, I do appreciate that pic. It gives a much better overview than the DM ones yesterday, where you couldnt see the extent of the garden at the back.

I know we've said this before but I do hope they're using cadavers and not just sniffers. Although I seriously doubt they will find a body or bodies there, but there may be indications of something happening.

 

[faybradshaw]

Haha!

 

[Alyce]

Ian Stewart, 55, spent two weeks in Majorca after going ahead with a pre-booked break despite Helen Bailey not being seen for three months.

Officers confirmed that money belonging to Miss Bailey was taken from her account after she vanished.

Yesterday a neighbour who lives close to their home in Royston, Hertfordshire, told The Sun: “Ian only got back from Spain a few days ago.
He was there for a fortnight.
“It had been booked with Helen months ago and he decided to go ahead with the break.
................
Friends said the timing had put extra strain on her relationship. One pal said: “It was always hard at this time of year – but it must have been incredibly difficult with everything else going on. I think that’s why Helen told friends she could leave Ian.”
.......................

Father of two Mr Stewart found his first wife Diane collapsed in the garden of their home after she suffered a fatal brain aneurysm.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/14349...rested-after-returning-from-two-week-holiday/

Just a few snippets, more at link.

Much as I loathe the Sun, I had a read thru there and it is most interesting.

So if the friends stories are accurate, the story about Helen keeping a large amount of cash at home and having just got engaged are both confirmed.

I wonder then, why this large amount of cash was not used, rather than taking money from her account ?

 

[faybradshaw]

The trouble is, if looks count, he hardly looks capable of doing anything sinister... a bit on the scruffy side, teddy bear, looking man

 

[MillyM]

What made me initially suspicious was the four-day gap before reporting, and the partner not doing anything direct in terms of talking to press or doing TV appeal. Just 'felt' odd. The police now going back to house to dig up garden brings to mind the EastEnders actress and her kids killed by the partner last Christmas. Police went to house first off, did nothing, then only weeks later returned to dig up the grounds and found the 3 bodies.