HEATHFIELD ELECTRICIAN DAVID FULLER SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR KILLINGS AND MORTUARY ABUSE IN KENT
| Red Rose Database
Heathfield Rapist
In December 2021, the criminal case against David Fuller, a 67-year-old man from Heathfield, reached a grim conclusion as he was sentenced for his heinous crimes involving two murders and the abuse of over 100 female corpses. Fuller’s actions, which spanned more than a decade, have left a deep scar on the communities of Tunbridge Wells and beyond, prompting widespread outrage and calls for systemic review.
Fuller was convicted of the murders of Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce, both of whom he killed in separate incidents in Tunbridge Wells in 1987. Wendy Knell was found dead in her home on Guildford Road on June 23, 1987, after her boyfriend discovered her in her bed when she failed to show up for work. Caroline Pierce was abducted from outside her residence in Grosvenor Park on November 24 of the same year. Fuller, who had previously admitted to killing the women under diminished responsibility but denied murder outright, pleaded guilty to both murders in November during his trial.
In addition to the murders, Fuller was found to have committed appalling acts of sexual abuse against corpses, including children, in two Kent morgues. His employment as a hospital electrician provided him access to these facilities, where he would often visit the morgues after hours. Investigators revealed that Fuller had repeatedly entered the mortuaries when other staff had left, often returning to the same bodies to commit his crimes. Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson QC stated that Fuller had systematically and repeatedly sexually abused the bodies of at least 102 women and girls, with victims ranging from a nine-year-old girl to a woman aged 100. Evidence indicated that some of these victims, including the nine-year-old girl, were raped during or after their deaths.
Fuller’s disturbing activities came to light following a police investigation that utilized recent advances in DNA testing. The operation, which cost approximately £2.5 million, linked Fuller to the double murders, which had been dubbed “the Bedsit Murders.” During the investigation, authorities also uncovered footage recorded by Fuller himself, depicting his abuse of corpses, stored on devices found at his residence in Heathfield, East Sussex. The police search of his home in 2020 revealed these recordings, which spanned from 2008 to November 2020.
Fuller’s employment history in hospital maintenance began in 1989, and he worked at the Kent and Sussex Hospital until its closure in September 2011. Subsequently, he was transferred to Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury, where his crimes continued until his arrest. The investigation revealed that Fuller’s pattern involved entering morgues after hours, often visiting the same bodies repeatedly, and abusing them in a manner that has horrified the nation.
During the sentencing hearing, the court heard emotional victim impact statements from the families of the victims. Pamela Knell, Wendy’s mother, described her daughter as a “thoughtful person who would do anything for anyone,” expressing her grief over the loss of her only child and the lifelong pain it caused. She also shared her anguish over the fact that she and her family had to live with her daughter’s death without any form of closure.
Similarly, Katrina Frost, Caroline Pierce’s mother, recounted the horrific details of her daughter’s murder and the ongoing nightmare it represented. She described Fuller as “an animal” who, after committing these crimes, was able to return to a normal life with his family, while her family’s life was forever changed. Frost recounted the trauma of identifying her daughter’s badly damaged body and the images that haunted her daily.
In response to the case, UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid announced the initiation of an independent inquiry to examine how Fuller was able to operate undetected within the hospital system. The inquiry aims to understand the failures that allowed such crimes to occur and to assess the broader national implications of Fuller’s actions.
Fuller’s sentencing included two life sentences for the murders, with a concurrent 12-year term for his other crimes. The court’s judgment reflected the severity of his offenses and the profound impact on the victims’ families and the community at large. Fuller, who appeared in court wearing a grey sweatshirt and a black mask, showed little emotion during the proceedings, mostly looking down but raising his eyes when addressed.
This case has shocked the nation and raised serious questions about hospital security and oversight, especially regarding the handling of deceased individuals. The community of Heathfield and the wider Kent area continue to grapple with the aftermath of these revelations, which have exposed a disturbing breach of trust and morality.
Fuller was convicted of the murders of Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce, both of whom he killed in separate incidents in Tunbridge Wells in 1987. Wendy Knell was found dead in her home on Guildford Road on June 23, 1987, after her boyfriend discovered her in her bed when she failed to show up for work. Caroline Pierce was abducted from outside her residence in Grosvenor Park on November 24 of the same year. Fuller, who had previously admitted to killing the women under diminished responsibility but denied murder outright, pleaded guilty to both murders in November during his trial.
In addition to the murders, Fuller was found to have committed appalling acts of sexual abuse against corpses, including children, in two Kent morgues. His employment as a hospital electrician provided him access to these facilities, where he would often visit the morgues after hours. Investigators revealed that Fuller had repeatedly entered the mortuaries when other staff had left, often returning to the same bodies to commit his crimes. Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson QC stated that Fuller had systematically and repeatedly sexually abused the bodies of at least 102 women and girls, with victims ranging from a nine-year-old girl to a woman aged 100. Evidence indicated that some of these victims, including the nine-year-old girl, were raped during or after their deaths.
Fuller’s disturbing activities came to light following a police investigation that utilized recent advances in DNA testing. The operation, which cost approximately £2.5 million, linked Fuller to the double murders, which had been dubbed “the Bedsit Murders.” During the investigation, authorities also uncovered footage recorded by Fuller himself, depicting his abuse of corpses, stored on devices found at his residence in Heathfield, East Sussex. The police search of his home in 2020 revealed these recordings, which spanned from 2008 to November 2020.
Fuller’s employment history in hospital maintenance began in 1989, and he worked at the Kent and Sussex Hospital until its closure in September 2011. Subsequently, he was transferred to Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury, where his crimes continued until his arrest. The investigation revealed that Fuller’s pattern involved entering morgues after hours, often visiting the same bodies repeatedly, and abusing them in a manner that has horrified the nation.
During the sentencing hearing, the court heard emotional victim impact statements from the families of the victims. Pamela Knell, Wendy’s mother, described her daughter as a “thoughtful person who would do anything for anyone,” expressing her grief over the loss of her only child and the lifelong pain it caused. She also shared her anguish over the fact that she and her family had to live with her daughter’s death without any form of closure.
Similarly, Katrina Frost, Caroline Pierce’s mother, recounted the horrific details of her daughter’s murder and the ongoing nightmare it represented. She described Fuller as “an animal” who, after committing these crimes, was able to return to a normal life with his family, while her family’s life was forever changed. Frost recounted the trauma of identifying her daughter’s badly damaged body and the images that haunted her daily.
In response to the case, UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid announced the initiation of an independent inquiry to examine how Fuller was able to operate undetected within the hospital system. The inquiry aims to understand the failures that allowed such crimes to occur and to assess the broader national implications of Fuller’s actions.
Fuller’s sentencing included two life sentences for the murders, with a concurrent 12-year term for his other crimes. The court’s judgment reflected the severity of his offenses and the profound impact on the victims’ families and the community at large. Fuller, who appeared in court wearing a grey sweatshirt and a black mask, showed little emotion during the proceedings, mostly looking down but raising his eyes when addressed.
This case has shocked the nation and raised serious questions about hospital security and oversight, especially regarding the handling of deceased individuals. The community of Heathfield and the wider Kent area continue to grapple with the aftermath of these revelations, which have exposed a disturbing breach of trust and morality.