Student confessed to killing grandmother in truth or dare game
A STUDENT who admitted killing his step-grandmother during a game of truth or dare researched his “urge to kill again” online, a court heard.
Tiernan Darnton, 21, was found guilty of killing 94-year-old Mary Gregory, who was found under a table in her bungalow in Heysham, Lancs, in May 2018 and died four days later.
An inquest that year initially ruled that she was the victim of an accidental house fire after an investigation by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service concluded the most probable cause was a discarded cigarette and ruled out any third party involvement.
But police reopened the case in May 2019 following comments made by Darnton during a counselling session in which he confessed to killing Mrs Gregory, his stepfather’s mother, by using a lighter to set a curtain on fire.
When police opened their investigation, it emerged that Darnton had also confessed his “darkest secret” to friends during a game of truth or dare several weeks after Mrs Gregory’s death. He told his friends: “I have a secret I haven’t told anyone. I may have killed someone.”
Darnton’s friends did not believe him and he persuaded them to keep quiet, but he told a counsellor in May 2019 about a friend “who could send me to prison cos of what he knows”.
The female counsellor ended the session by saying, “I’m not really clear what you’re saying but I think you’re trying to tell me you’ve killed someone”, to which Darnton mouthed: “Yes.”
During his trial at Preston Crown Court, the prosecution said that attempts were made to hamper any escape by Mrs Gregory, with a table placed in front of the conservatory doors, the unplugging of a phone cable and the dismantling of a smoke alarm.
The jury were also shown drawings found at Darnton’s home address, outlining the floor plan of Mrs Gregory’s bungalow, which contained labels including “good hiding place” and “quick exit”, as well as references to needing a “good alibi”.
When pressed, he said he started the blaze because he did not want Mrs Gregory, formerly from Nuneaton, Warks, to suffer any longer from dementia, the court heard.
Examination of his mobile phone and laptop found internet searches made after the fire including “I’m a murderer”, “I want to cause evil” and “Urge to kill again”. Sentencing is due to take place today.