Stephen West, the son of notorious serial killers Fred and Rosemary West, has described his parents as a 'monster and psychopath' in a recent interview. The Wests are believed to have raped, tortured, and murdered at least 12 young women and girls over a 20-year period, with many of their victims buried at their home in Gloucester.
Police have recently begun excavating a cafe in Gloucester in search of another suspected victim, Mary Bastholm. The Wests' first known victim was Ann McFall, an 18-year-old nanny who worked for Fred West and became his lover. She was pregnant with his child when she disappeared in 1967; her remains and those of her unborn baby were later found in a field.
Fred West's first wife, Catherine Costello, was also a victim. She disappeared in 1971 and her remains were found near Ann McFall's burial site. Rosemary West murdered her stepdaughter, Charmaine, while Fred was in prison; he later buried the body under the kitchen window of their home.
Other victims include Lynda Gough, 19, who vanished in 1973 and was found buried in a garage at Cromwell Street; Carole Ann Cooper, 15, who disappeared after a night out and was found in the cellar; and Lucy Partington, 21, who went missing in 1973 while waiting for a bus. The Wests are believed to have picked up many of their victims while they were hitchhiking or waiting for transport.
