Baby killer Lucy Letby's former life has been dismantled following her conviction for the murders of seven infants and attempted murders of six others. The 33-year-old, now serving a whole life term at HMP Low Newton in Durham, showed rare emotion in court when evidence of her previous life was presented, including images of her childlike bedroom and the names of her beloved cats.
Letby's two rescue cats, Tigger and Smudge, have been rehomed after her arrest in 2018. Her three-bedroom semi-detached house in Westbourne Road, Chester, which she bought for £179,000 in 2016, was sold in 2019 for £201,000 to wind turbine technician Dean Porter. Porter told the Daily Mail he was aware of the property's history but was not put off by it.
Following her arrest, Letby moved back in with her parents, Susan, 63, and Jonathan, 77, in Hereford until she was charged in 2020. The couple, who had been staunch supporters throughout the trial, have now reportedly decided to leave their family home permanently and relocate 250 miles to be closer to their daughter in prison.
Neighbours described the couple as 'recluses' since Letby's arrest, saying they have hardly been seen. One neighbour said: 'At first, they spent all their time at the back of the house and never even answered the phone. Then when the trial began last year, they rented a flat in Manchester so that they could attend the proceedings.'
Forensic psychologist Dr Naomi Murphy commented that parents of convicted killers may feel guilt and shame, even if they had no part in the crime. She said: 'With Lucy Letby's mum, there is also the possibility that she will feel responsible in some way for her daughter's actions.'
