UK - Stephen Baxter, 61, Carol Baxter, 64, West Mersea, Essex, Easter Sunday 2023, Murder Investigation

[Tortoise]

"A murder investigation was launched today after a millionaire couple thought to have died from carbon monoxide poisoning at their home were found to have the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl in their systems.

Stephen Baxter, 61, and his wife Carol, 64, were found dead 'together and peaceful' in armchairs by their daughter Ellie in their five-bedroom house in a yachting town of West Mersea, Essex on Easter Sunday this year.

Essex Police said at the time there was nothing suspicious about the deaths and were treating them as accidental.

But they have now arrested three people – a man and a woman in their 20s and another man in his 30s - on suspicion of murder after post-mortem examinations [...]

Details emerged at the formal opening of an inquest into their deaths today."

[...]

3 arrests in murder probe after couple dead with fentanyl in systems

Stephen Baxter (left), 61, and his wife Carol (right), 64, were found 'together and peaceful' in armchairs in their five-bedroom house in a yachting town on Easter Sunday this year.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[dotr]

Couple who died at home had fentanyl in their systems, inquest hears

Stephen Baxter, 61, and his wife Carol, 64, (pictured) were found unresponsive by their daughter Ellie Baxter in their five bedroom home in West Mersea, Essex, on April 9 earlier this year.

www.dailymail.co.uk

''Fentanyl is a similar drug to morphine but up to 100 times more potent. It is a prescription drug that is also made and used illegally, often as a substitute for heroin.''

It emerged at Essex Coroner's Court in Chelmsford today that the couple had traces of the synthetic opioid drug fentanyl in their systems

''The couple founded Cazsplash, which sells corner and curved shower mats, in 2012.

Mrs Baxter had run the business since its inception, having also worked in adult education, while Mr Baxter worked for a real estate firm.

The duo were also both keen members of West Mersea Yacht Club, in Coast Road, which flew its flag at half mast following their deaths as a mark of respect.''

 

[Parker Knoll]

How strange.

 

[Tortoise]

"Police said on Friday a man and a woman had been released on bail and a second man remained in custody.

They said all three suspects were from Colchester.

An Essex Police spokesman said the force wanted to hear from anyone with information about the couple's movements on the Easter Bank Holiday weekend of 7 to 9 April, and specifically whether anyone saw or spoke to them."

West Mersea: Murder suspect remains in custody over couple's death

Two other suspects are released on bail following the deaths of Stephen and Carol Baxter in Essex.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[dotr]

Just noting although it may have nothing to do with the deaths in this case, but there have been a cluster of deaths in North America due to fentanyl inserted into cocaine and other drugs.
fwiw, imo, speculation.
Ws thread..

https://www.websleuths.com/forums/threads/toronto-police-warn-of-suspicious-drug-linked-to-two-overdose-deaths-in-deer-park-area-nov-2021.603321/page-2#post-18398228

Local authorities report sudden spike in overdose deaths due to cocaine mixed with fentanyl

Local authorities want to alert the public of a spike in recent overdose deaths in the area due to cocaine laced with fentanyl. These deaths occurred in the Joliet/Lockport area. “Although we did not test the substance, we believe it was cocaine laced with fentanyl,” said Lockport Police...

willcountyillinois.com

Health Alert: Overdoses Among People Exposed to Fentanyl While Using Other Drugs | San Francisco

sf.gov

2022
'The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) has issued a health alert in response to a series of overdoses, both fatal and nonfatal, among people inadvertently exposed to fentanyl while using cocaine.'
Cocaine comeback in Chicago area vexes law enforcement, tainted supply drives up overdose deaths
2023
''Statistics and stories from families and front line experts reveal the troubling surge in cocaine across the Chicago area. Especially since the pandemic, local demand and cartel production is now reported at record levels.
And it's deadlier than ever, as most cocaine is now laced with the powerful opioid fentanyl.''

 

[Luwin]

Luke D'Wit, 33, of Churchfields, West Mersea, has been charged with murder, possession of a Class A drug, and theft.
He is due to appear before Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Saturday.
Police said two other people arrested in connection with the incident, a man and a woman, have been released on bail.

West Mersea: Murder charge over married couple's death

A man is charged with murder in connection with the deaths of Stephen and Carol Baxter in Essex.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Tortoise]

"D'Wit appeared in court today via video link from prison. He appeared to be walking with the aid of a crutch and was wearing a blue and yellow coloured shirt.

Andrew Jackson, prosecuting, said the two other suspects remained on bail. He estimated that any future trial could take up to three weeks, and was likely to include pathology and pharmacology evidence.

[...]

Relatives and friends of D'Wit began murmuring loudly when they realised that D'Wt would be remaining in custody.

Judge Christopher Morgan ordered them to keep quiet, saying: 'I am very sorry. I know emotions run high, but please don't talk across the court'.

[...]

When a woman in the public gallery once again expressed her exasperation, the judge told her: 'Madam, will you just leave'. She then left the court.

D'Wit was remanded in custody to appear back at court on September 25 this year."

[...]

Man in court charged with murdering couple 'with fentanyl'

Luke D'Wit, 33, who is accused of the murder of Stephen Baxter, 61, and his wife Carol, 64, spoke only to confirm his name during a short hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court, Essex.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Tortoise]

The bearded defendant, who has receding brown hair and wore a yellow and grey fleece, remained seated throughout the hearing and spoke only to confirm his name.

A provisional trial date was set for February 12 2024, with a time estimate of three weeks and the venue to be confirmed at a later date.

[...]

https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2023-07-11/man-appears-in-court-over-murders-of-married-couple-found-dead-in-home

 

[Luwin]

"D'Wit appeared in court today via video link from prison. He appeared to be walking with the aid of a crutch and was wearing a blue and yellow coloured shirt.

Andrew Jackson, prosecuting, said the two other suspects remained on bail. He estimated that any future trial could take up to three weeks, and was likely to include pathology and pharmacology evidence.

[...]

Relatives and friends of D'Wit began murmuring loudly when they realised that D'Wt would be remaining in custody.

Judge Christopher Morgan ordered them to keep quiet, saying: 'I am very sorry. I know emotions run high, but please don't talk across the court'.

[...]

When a woman in the public gallery once again expressed her exasperation, the judge told her: 'Madam, will you just leave'. She then left the court.

D'Wit was remanded in custody to appear back at court on September 25 this year."

[...]

Man in court charged with murdering couple 'with fentanyl'

Luke D'Wit, 33, who is accused of the murder of Stephen Baxter, 61, and his wife Carol, 64, spoke only to confirm his name during a short hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court, Essex.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Not very respectful behaviour by his family.

Has it been said what the relationship, if any, is between D'wit and the Baxters?

 

[Tortoise]

Not very respectful behaviour by his family.

Has it been said what the relationship, if any, is between D'wit and the Baxters?

I haven't seen any mention of a relationship between them. Google maps shows it is a 7 minute walk between his address and the victims' address. He is charged with theft as well, but that could be in relation to the drugs.

 

[Luwin]

I haven't seen any mention of a relationship between them. Google maps shows it is a 7 minute walk between his address and the victims' address. He is charged with theft as well, but that could be in relation to the drugs.

Thanks

It doesn't sound like there was any sign of forced entry in the daughters account of finding them, so yes maybe theft is in relation to drugs

 

[Tortoise]

"Put very simply, someone is guilty of robbery if he steals from a person using force or makes them think force will be used. Theft means taking someone’s property but does not involve the use of force. Burglary means illegally entering a property in order to steal property from it.

Below is a summary of each offence and what it involves." [...]

What is the difference between theft, robbery and burglary? – Sentencing

www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk

 

[AcbMurders]

Essex: West Mersea man denies murder of married couple

The 34-year-old pleads not guilty to murder, theft of jewellery and of possession of fentanyl.

www.bbc.com

 

[Tortoise]

Essex: West Mersea man denies murder of married couple

The 34-year-old pleads not guilty to murder, theft of jewellery and of possession of fentanyl.

www.bbc.com

"Mr D'Wit is accused of murdering the couple between 6 April and 10 April this year."

"Prosecutors say the defendant stole jewellery belonging to Mrs Baxter on or before 6 July and was in possession of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, on 16 July."

just a few quotes from the article linked.

 

[AcbMurders]

Man denies murdering married couple found dead in their Mersea home on Easter Sunday

Stephen and Carol Baxter, who were in their sixties, were found unresponsive by a family member in their home in Victory Road, West Mersea, in April

www.gazette-news.co.uk

A post-mortem examination was carried out at Broomfield Hospital which gave a provisional cause of death for Mrs Baxter, 64, as combined fentanyl and promethazine toxicity with terminal bronchopneumonia.

The provisional cause of death for Mr Baxter, 61, was delivered as cardiomegaly and alcoholic liver disease with fentanyl intoxication.

 

[Legally Bland]

A man poisoned a married couple with the opioid painkiller fentanyl and rewrote their will, a murder trial has heard.

Stephen Baxter, 61, and Carol Baxter, 64, were discovered unresponsive at their seaside home in Essex on 9 April.

Luke D'Wit, who lived nearby, worked for and befriended the couple, claiming to be like an "adopted son", prosecutors said.

Mr D'Wit, 34, denies murder, a jury at Chelmsford Crown Court were told.

Tracy Ayling KC, prosecuting, said the defendant had "rewritten their will and stolen Carol's jewellery, among many other things, to benefit from their deaths".

The prosecutor said he created a will on his phone early in the morning of 10 April, the day after the couple were found dead by their daughter.

West Mersea man poisoned couple with fentanyl and rewrote will - court told

Luke D'Wit befriended Stephen and Carol Baxter, claiming to be like an "adopted son", a jury hears.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Legally Bland]

A man used an app on his phone to watch a married couple dying, having allegedly poisoned them with the opioid painkiller fentanyl after rewriting their will, a court has heard.

[...]

Tracy Ayling KC, prosecuting, said D’Wit had installed a “mobile security surveillance application” on his phone.

She said this allowed him to monitor a camera from another device.

Ms Ayling said that police who analysed D’Wit’s phone found images of Mr and Mrs Baxter ‘in their armchairs’ on the afternoon of April 7 last year, with one timed at 5.14pm.

Man had app on his phone to watch millionaire couple die 'after poisoning them'

Luke D'Wit worked for and befriended the entrepreneurial couple, and became 'like an adopted son to them'.

metro.co.uk

 

[Legally Bland]

Video of LD calmly giving a statement to the police while you can hear the daughter of the victims in absolute pieces in the background.

 

[Amonet]

Video of LD calmly giving a statement to the police while you can hear the daughter of the victims in absolute pieces in the background.

The poor daughter finding her parents like that :-(

 

[LadyL]

Video of LD calmly giving a statement to the police while you can hear the daughter of the victims in absolute pieces in the background.

wow verbal diarrhea - he can't stop talking