It was the 23rd of October 2020 when 58 year old Julie Williams called the police to say that her son who lived with her, 31 year old David Williams, had been missing since the 21 October. He hadn’t said that he was planning to go away for any reason and it was totally out of character for David not to come home. Julie was immediately very worried about just may have happened to him. But David didn’t come back as was hoped.
Then just two days after David’s disappearance, Julie’s sister called the police to report that Julie was also missing. Julie was close to her family and she would always have spoken to them if she planned not be home as she wouldn’t want to worry them. Had she left to find David or was there some other connection between the two disappearances. This case now assumed increased importance for officers who had gone from a standard missing persons case to a mother and son both disappearing in a matter of days in a way that was most unusual and concerning.
Officers went to Julie’s house and when there was no response they forced the door. Inside, they faced an awful scene. Julie Williams’s dead body was found lying face down on the floor of her living room with the cord from a fan “wrapped tightly around her neck twice”. She had suffered a total of 113 injuries, including five “forceful blunt force injuries to her head and neck” and a “traumatic bleed on the brain”. She had died from a very “violent and sustained attack upon her”. Julie was just 58 when she died in her own home. There was no sign of a break-in or any forced entry so it seemed likely that Julie had known her killer.
The investigation moved quickly as later on that same day day, officers received a tip off about the murder saying that a local man had confessed to killing both Julie and David. This man was 39 year Anthony Russell, a heroin addict who had been sleeping rough until a few years before, when he had seemed to have got his life back together. Although he still lived the chaotic life of a heroin user. He was known to both and actually lived in a flat on the same road as Julie and David. On the very day that David went missing, witnesses reported that Russell was seen with David in Coventry, laughing and messing about as the pair had some drinks as they played about with a shopping trolley. They seemed like good friends enjoying spending time together and there was no information about any argument or aggression. The informant had told officers that Russell had murdered David as he had been having a relationship with his girlfriend.
Officers immediately rushed to Russell’s flat. Again, there was no answer so they broke into the property. Once inside, it didn’t take long to find the dead body of David Williams – he had been murdered and then just pushed under his bed with no attempt to conceal the body. It was later revealed that David had been strangled with a lanyard before being moved under the bed. Once again, David had suffered a violent and sustained attack which had left him with 87 separate injuries. David was just 31 years old when he died.
Working with information received, Detectives believed that Russell and David had returned to Russell’s flat to take drugs after being out in the City that day and Russell had killed him because of what he believed about David and his girlfriend. They worked on the assumption that Russell had killed Julie overnight from 24/25 October having probably duped his way into her home saying he had information about the death of her son. A worried Julie would have let him in. They thought that at some point in that conversation in her home, he had revealed to Julie that he was responsible for David’s death. Once Julie knew he had killed David, Russell felt he needed to kill Julie to cover his tracks.
So detectives had two murders and a clear suspect. But there was no sign of Russell who clearly needed to be caught quickly before this spree of violence potentially claimed another victim. More violence had occurred in the city which seemed to be attributable to Russell as detectives discovered that a man fitting Russell’s description had attacked a vulnerable 78 year old man the day before. The man was shaken by the aggressive nature of the attack from the man who had stolen money and a mobile phone from him. Russell was someone who had been homeless in the past so was quite capable of living on the streets. He could still be local but detectives knew he had connections elsewhere in the country and he could frankly be anywhere. Detectives made an urgent media appeal for information.
They openly said that Russell was sought in connection with the two murders in Coventry. They emphasised his links to the south-west of England and said there was a strong chance that he could have travelled to Plymouth, or elsewhere in Devon or Cornwall. To quell any rumours spreading – as is the way in our social media age -West Midlands Police confirmed that David was not a suspect in his mother’s death.
“These deaths are very sad and my thoughts are with David and Julie’s family at this difficult time,” said Detective Inspector Jim Mahon, of the force’s homicide team. Our investigation continues at significant pace but we need to find Russell as soon as possible. I’m urging anyone with information about where he is to get in touch with us straight away.”
Once the media briefing was over it was a matter of waiting and being prepared to urgently react to any information received. But the response was disappointing. There were a flurry of calls but no confirmed sightings. Not the solid lead that detectives were looking for as more officers were drafted into the investigation to search for Russell.
But then, on the 28th of October there was finally a clear sighting of Russell. Rather than head miles away to the south-west of England, he was in fact in Leamington Spa, just 10 miles or so south of Coventry. He had taken public transport to the town and was spotted on a CCTV camera arriving at 2.46pm. And once again there was violence as he robbed a 71 year old woman for the £200 she had on her. He again used excessive violence on the vulnerable woman dragging his terrified victim along the floor as he carried out his attack.
Russell was spotted Leamington Spa on foot, where at he again preyed on a vulnerable victim, this time a 75-year-old man. He asked him for directions and then proceeded to follow the man back to his house where he attacked him before stealing his car, a Ford C-Max.
Two days after he left Leamington Spa, the body of 31 year old mum of 3 Nicole McGregor was found in woodland close to the River Leam. She had been raped and strangled and her body dragged to her final resting space probably before she died – she was covered in scratches and there were twigs and other woodland debris stuffed into her mouth. There was evidence of blunt force injury to her head and face, including a bleed to the brain – it had been a nasty attack. Nicole had been five months pregnant when she died. Was this the third victim of Russell? Detectives clearly feared that is was but whereas he knew his previous two victims it was very unclear how he know Nicole of if he even knew her at all.
Detectives desperately appealed for help again. Assistant Chief Constable Jayne Meir said : ‘We have been searching for Anthony since the weekend after he was linked to a double murder in Coventry. Officers have identified a third body within Newbold Comyn in Warwickshire and we consider Anthony Russell is linked and is likely to have committed that offence. It’s essential the public come forward with any information they have as to the whereabouts of Anthony. Anthony is a dangerous individual and members of the public should come forward with any information and dial 999. They should not approach him. We’re working closely with Warwickshire Police to locate and arrest Anthony Russell. If you have any information do not hesitate to call 999.
The police flooded the area in a desperate manhunt for Russell. Then on the 30th October the car he had stolen was sighted – with a man who matched the description of Russell inside. As officers approached they confirmed that it was Russell sleeping in the back seat of the car he had stolen two days earlier.
Really dramatic body-cam footage released by police shows what happened next as police smashed their way into the stolen car to detain Russell as he slept. Officers can be heard shouting ‘armed police, get your hands up’ as they handcuff him inside the vehicle after breaking the car’s rear windows. While being booked into custody, he told officers: ‘I admit it, I did it.’ But when questioned by officers in custody Russell remained silent with a blanket draped over his head. He later admitted that he was responsible for all three of the murders, although he insisted in was manslaughter not murder. He also denied that he had raped Nicole before he killed her.
This meant that there was a trial where Russell stood accused of rape. It was a really moving trial. It was clear that Nicole had suffered in the past and at one time was on the run from police after she failed to appear in court for possessing a knife. She had been wanted by British Transport Police after being charged with possession of an offensive weapon and fare evasion in July 2019. But she was really trying to turn her life around after the chaos that drug addiction brings. In a long post on her Facebook page in the August before she died, she wrote about trying to get her life back on track.
“New fresh start for me is a defo need to put my self first and concentrate on sorting my life out once and for all.
‘Hopefully fingers crossed I will have sum Wer else to live I need to put old and the bad negative sh*t behind me and start putting positive stuff first.
‘I just want to say iv got great support around me and good friends behind me hate all the false to face bull sh*t peace out lol love to all my children I missu all sooo much always in my heart my thoughts never forget.”
Giving evidence at the trial, her partner Christopher White talked about how excited he and Nicole were at the prospect of a first child together. The court heard how the couple lived at a flat in Leamington, and had been together for around 18 months. They both still had a drugs habit and spent their days begging on the street largely to fund their drug habits. Christopher said he had met Russell in Leamington on the afternoon of October 26, 2020, after he had left Coventry. The court heard how the pair knew each other from a period when they were both going through a bad time and rough sleeping in Coventry three years earlier, though Christopher had thought Russell’s first name was ‘Danny’.
Christopher told how Russell asked for their help to “score” some crack cocaine and heroin and said he would pay them £100 if he and Nicole could help him. They absolutely could and the three of them had taken drugs together in Leamington town centre just hours before Nicole was killed. Christopher said that as they chatted during the afternoon, Russell claimed that he was wanted by police for burglary and said his girlfriend had cheated on him. Christopher was in tears how he recalled how Nicola had behaved during this conversation. “He said he was hurt by the cheating and Nicole said she would never do that to me,” he said. “I remember she snapped and jumped onto my lap. That really stuck in my mind. After everything that really stuck in my head. Nicole showed him the scan of our baby and he congratulated us.”
The following morning, unaware that Russell had by now killed Nicole, Christopher White along with Russell went back to the flat to search for her. “We sat having a smoke, talking generally,” Christopher told the court. “I was worried about where she was. “He picked the (baby) scan up and said ‘I bet you can’t wait until she’s born’. The sick bastard. “It was in a frame. There were a couple of little toys and a push chair I had bought.” When there was still no sign of Nicole the next day, Christopher reported her as missing at 4.30pm on October 27.
The following day when Russell had left town, Christopher met the dealer who had supplied the trio with drugs the day before. The court heard how the dealer then showed Christopher a local news report on his phone and an image attached to the story. He knew it was Russell in the picture and he couldn’t quite believe what he was reading. “It had a picture of Anthony Russell on it and said that he was wanted for murder,” Christopher said. “I just collapsed.”
The prosecution alleged that Russell lured Nicole to Leamington’s Newbold Comyn park with the promise of drugs. CCTV footage of was played to the jury showing her walking alongside Russell at 19:45, the last time she was seen alive. The QC told jurors: “You will have to consider whether she consented to sexual intercourse with a man she did not know whilst five months pregnant, just moments before she was murdered.” She said the prosecution did not rely on the other crimes committed by Russell “to excite prejudice” but because they were “highly relevant” to the defendant’s pattern of behaviour. “We suggest that pattern equally applies in this case – the defendant wanted sex and got it through violence,” she added.
Russell assaulted Nicole just hours after she had shown him a picture of her baby scan. He then strangled her with her own leggings so she could not go to police about the rape, before dumping her body by a river with twigs, leaves and a piece of wood stuffed in her mouth.
Russell was unanimously found guilty on Thursday of raping Nicole, after just an hour and 23 minutes of deliberations by the jury. For this crime he was sent to prison for 12 years. Of course, by continuing to deny that he was guilty of raping Nicole, Russell had put her family and friends through the horror of reliving all the details of the case at the trial.
Russell had previously admitted the manslaughter of all three victims although he denied murder. But on the day of the trial at Warwick Crown Court for the three killings, he changed his plea to guilty of murder and so progressed to sentencing.
Anthony Russell had admitted murdering Julie Williams, her son David Williams, and Nicole McGregor in October 2020. Russell refused to turn up for his sentencing hearing – yes, another of those who can’t face up to the consequences of his crimes and show the basic respect to the families and friends of those affected. The court heard Russell, described as a “rather sad and pathetic individual” by his own barrister, had refused to attend the sentencing hearing. Attempts to get him in a prison van resulted in staff being put in “situations of danger”, the court was told.
Sentencing the 39-year-old in his absence, the judge said: “I have no doubt that this is a case which falls fairly and squarely within the description of being exceptionally serious. There were three murders – each was separated in time and location. Each was the result of a separate murderous act which was sustained and brutal. Each involved the use of very significant violence.’ You are a man prepared to use very significant violence on anyone. You are exceptionally dangerous to those who know you, and those who do not. You will remain in custody for the rest or your life and will never be eligible to apply to the Parole Board for your release. There is no defence of diminished responsibility and I do not contribute that to your offending. You offended in this way not because of mental health issues, because you put your self-interest first. Your mental health is not a proper reason to stop me from passing a whole life sentence in this case.”
The court fell silent as victim impact statements were read to the court on behalf of Nicole’s mum Maggie, and Julie’s sister, Carol.
Maggie said of her daughter: “She was caring, she was kind and behind her barriers, she had a heart of gold. “She was kind and behind her barriers had a heart of gold,” the statement said. “She was very family orientated and loved her children, although they didn’t live with her because of her circumstances. “At the time she was taken from us she was pregnant. This she saw as her second chance in life. Losing Nicole in the way we did just destroyed us as a family.”
Carol said, “Not only was our dear, sweet, caring, loving Julie taken from us, but also our dear loving nephew, David. Carol referenced a devastating suicide the year before year of a family member saying: ”Tragically, one of her son’s took his own life after these murders. He was unable to deal with the tragedy of the murders you (Russell) committed.”
Sentencing will not bring our family back but we hope it will stop the defendant from committing these evil crimes on any more families.”
The QC defending Russell, admitted there was no level of remorse he could extend to lessen the absolute pain and sadness suffered by the devastated families of the victims. “There is nothing I can say that can diminish the loss of those who care for those who were killed,” he said. “Any show of remorse of that kind would not be welcome or well received and I don’t seek to go down that avenue. Nothing I can say will undo the suffering and loss of those listening in and those absent.”
Speaking after the trial, Det Supt Shaun Edwards, from the West Midlands Police homicide team, said: “This was a violent series of killings which happened over a period of just seven days, but which have left two families devastated for the rest of their lives.
“We believe that David was killed due to Russell’s mistaken belief that he was in a relationship with his girlfriend.
“When Russell went to speak to Julie about her son’s disappearance, we suspect that he confessed to David’s killing. He then killed Julie to stop her from speaking to the police.
“There’s no known link between Russell and Nicole, and it appears to be pure chance that he has encountered her.
“The huge effort that went into tracking Russell down, including national media appeals, can’t be overstated. We worked around the clock to bring him to justice, and I’m glad that that is what has happened today.
“The thoughts of everyone involved in this investigation are with the families of David and Julie, and Nicole, as well as the victims he robbed, today.”
So what do you make of what you have read? Once again, it is an appalling story and what really sticks out for me is Russell’s willingness to use extreme violence on anyone at any time. Not just the three whose lives he took, but the other vulnerable people he assaulted. The main question has to be why, why would this man with no track record of extreme violence suddenly go on this orgy of extreme violence? Unfortunately, there is very little information I can find out about his first two victims, Julie and David. But what we do know for sure is that the manner of their deaths must have been terrifying for them. And we just heard in the victim statement that one of her children took his own life because of the events we have heard about. It just shows once again that the rippling effects of murder affect generations. And so it is with Nicole too, who had children who due to her issues, didn’t really know the person their mum really was and now will never get the opportunity.
We hear often about what addiction to heroin does to people, it ruins lives, devastated families and puts the addict at severe danger of violence daily. And by all accounts Nicole was working incredibly hard to come off the drugs this time, seeing the baby she was expecting with Christopher as a second chance at life. A chance she was prevented from taking by Russell. And once again, we can only ask why. What made his snap and kill David when he incorrectly thought he was having sex with his girlfriend, and so set in train the terrible events we have heard about today. It is hard to know. And Russell has not got the whole of his life in a prison cell to think about it.
And what do you make of the full life sentence given, it sounds right to me. From what I can see, in 2024 there are around 70 people service full life sentences in our UK prisons. This means he is there in a roll-call of some of the worst humans to have ever set foot on our soil, including Rose West, Wayne Cousins, Stephen Port and Levi Bellfield. I think it is well deserved.
This story was released as Episode 411 of the Uk True Crime Podcast, ‘A Triple Murder’.
The sources are below:
https://www.itv.com/news/central/2022-03-10/anthony-russell-timeline-into-triple-killers-seven-days-of-murders
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-60654312
https://www.itv.com/news/central/2022-03-11/anthony-russell-coventry-triple-murderer-sentenced-to-whole-life-order
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10602879/Triple-killer-Anthony-Russell-raped-final-victim-pregnant-gets-life-sentence.html
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/breaking-man-pleads-guilty-horrific-26224686
The Chilling Saga of Anthony Russell, Seven Days of Killing
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8896599/Police-release-CCTV-extremely-dangerous-fugitive-linked-three-murders.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-60707696