Author’s partner on murder charge as body ‘found in hidden cesspit’
Gruesome discovery after neighbours tip off police
THE partner of missing author Helen Bailey appeared in court charged with her murder yesterday – as neighbours claimed her body had been found in a cesspit at her £1.2million home.
Neighbours said her body was discovered – along with that of her dachshund, Boris – after the former owner of the house told police of the existence of the cesspit in the garage.
Computer expert Ian Stewart, 55, is also charged with preventing the lawful burial of Miss Bailey, 51, and perverting the course of justice.
He spoke only to confirm his name and address during a two-minute hearing before magistrates in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. Stewart was remanded in custody to appear tomorrow at St Albans Crown Court.
Miss Bailey, who created the Electra Brown and Daisy Davenport books for teenagers, was last seen out walking her dog on April 11 near her spacious home in Royston, Hertfordshire.
It was initially thought she may have gone to stay at her seaside property in Kent, but police found no sign of her.
Stewart was arrested on suspicion of murder last Monday as police began an extensive search of the detached house in Royston, three months after an earlier search yielded no clues.
Officers found the body on Friday after five days searching the grounds.
Mother-of-three Nicki McGrath, from Perth, Australia, whose mother lives next door to the author, said police had been unaware of the existence of the cesspit before being told about it on Friday.
Ms McGrath, who is staying with her mother while on holiday, said: ‘My mum was being disturbed by the noise of the generator which the police were using during their search. We had a word with police on Thursday evening to ask what time they would be turning it off. They said they were due to finish the next day.
‘We were just leaving when I said, “It might sound stupid, but have you dredged the well?”
‘We told them the last person who lived there used to joke that he had this ideal place to dump a body.
‘The senior officer came to see us the next morning and we told him what we knew. Then my mum phoned the former owner of the house so the detective could speak directly to him.
‘It turned out the police had only been draining the overflow tank in the old well in the garden, thinking that was all there was. The former owner told them the actual cesspit was in the large garage at the back of the house.
‘The body was found a little while later. It must have been in the cesspit because they had searched everywhere else without finding anything.
‘I have some empathy with the police because they could not have known the cesspit was there.’
Ms McGrath’s mother, who asked not to be named, said: ‘Helen was a lovely person. She was forthcoming, exuberant, intelligent and very friendly. She was genuine and outgoing and made everyone feel so special. What has happened is just awful.’
Det Chief Supt Paul Fullwood, who leads the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, refused to say where the body was found, but said: ‘We can confirm Helen Bailey’s body was found within the grounds of her home along with the body of her dog, Boris.
‘The searches have been painstaking and more work will need to take place in the coming days. Specialist officers are continuing to support Helen’s family at this extremely difficult time.’
A statement from Miss Bailey’s family said: ‘We share with Helen’s friends, neighbours and fans our shock, disbelief and sadness at the news of her tragic death.
‘Helen was immensely witty and talented. We love her deeply and are immensely proud of her achievements. She is now at peace and we shall all miss her terribly.
‘We wish to express our gratitude to the police as well as all those who supported us in the search for Helen.’
‘Helen made everyone feel so special’