New Drone Survey Reveals Potential Fred West Burial Sites in Herefordshire Fields
Investigators believe they have uncovered evidence of additional burial sites used by notorious serial killer Fred West in fields near Much Marcle, Herefordshire. A recent experimental drone survey has identified two matching anomalies and a potential seventh site in the area where the remains of West's first wife, Rena West, and victim Anne McFall were previously discovered.
Emotional Discovery Through Advanced Technology
Tim Whittard, who helped organize the drone survey, described the findings as emotionally significant. "We were very shocked by the anomalies in the soil," he said. "This cannot be picked up by the naked eye and you wouldn't see them stood next to them. We all got very emotional when we were doing it. If we can find even one missing girl it is worth it."
The survey used multispectral cameras and advanced DroneDeploy software to examine Fingerpost Field and Letterbox Field, areas West was known to frequent as a young man. The technology appears to corroborate two of six potential sites identified in a 2022 Trevor McDonald documentary that used ground-penetrating radar, while possibly revealing an additional seventh location.
West's Murderous Legacy
Fred West was charged with twelve murders of girls and young women, including several discovered at his infamous Cromwell Street home in Gloucester. He took his own life in prison in 1995 at age 53 before standing trial, leaving suspicions that he killed many more victims whose fates remain unknown. His wife, Rose West, was convicted of ten murders in November 1995 and is serving a life sentence.
West is suspected of burying victims around the perimeters of the Herefordshire fields, with investigators noting his behavioral patterns. "Most research has targeted Fingerpost field and we know Fred favoured burying victims around the perimeters of the two fields," Whittard explained. "That is about as much as you can profile his behaviour."
Compelling Evidence for Excavation
The drone survey revealed three anomalies of particular interest, with one rectangular-shaped site furthest from the road appearing most pronounced. "It is not even a metre deep," Whittard noted. "A good man with a shovel could get to the bottom of this in an hour. You would obviously need a forensic archaeologist on hand once they've dug deep enough."
Whittard emphasized the importance of pursuing these leads despite the passage of time. "Those girls are still missing. They are someone's sister, girlfriend, daughter. Sure it was a long time ago and a lot of their close loved ones will have left the world without knowing. I still don't think that is a good enough reason to give up looking."
Technological Breakthroughs in Cold Case Investigation
The experimental drone approach represents a significant advancement in cold case investigation techniques. "It is a proverbial needle in a haystack, but technology provides a shortcut," Whittard said. "You are not going to have to go over every square inch of the field. We used the drone to look into a very small area and it was experimental."
He suggested that even more advanced technology could be deployed, stating, "It needs the authorities with a bigger budget and a LiDAR drone. We have highlighted three in just the area we surveyed. There are another four with ground penetration radar nearby."
Police Response and Continuing Investigation
The findings have been reported to Gloucestershire Police, whose spokesperson stated, "We will look at any new and compelling evidence, as we would with any cases." However, Whittard acknowledged potential institutional reluctance, noting, "The police probably don't want to touch it with a bargepole as it could open a big can of worms."
The landowner has reportedly been cooperative with investigators throughout the process. This development follows the 2021 excavation of the Clean Plate Cafe in Gloucester in relation to missing teenager Mary Bastholm, who is feared to be among West's victims, though no remains were found at that location.
Whittard, who is originally from Gloucestershire where West committed his crimes, has followed the case closely for years. He emphasized the broader importance of the investigation, stating, "There is a lot of learning to do about the behaviors of serial killers. Understanding what Fred did can be very important."
The emotional weight of potentially providing answers to families who have waited decades for closure continues to drive the investigation forward, with technology now offering new hope in solving one of Britain's most notorious criminal mysteries.
