A disturbing case of domestic abuse and murder has come to a close as a woman, Maureen Rickards, was found guilty of killing her husband and hiding his body in their backyard.

The victim, 65-year-old Jeremy Rickards, was last seen on June 7, 2024. Weeks later, authorities discovered his remains stuffed inside a duffel bag at the home he shared with his wife, Maureen, in Canterbury.

The investigation revealed that Jeremy had suffered ongoing abuse before his death. A post-mortem examination showed evidence of prior strangulation and broken ribs. Witnesses recalled seeing him with visible injuries in the weeks leading up to his disappearance. Prosecutors even presented an audio recording in which Maureen was heard assaulting him and making threats against his life.

After murdering her husband, Maureen Rickards attempted to cover up the crime. She used his bank cards for personal purchases and sent deceptive messages from his phone, telling their daughter he had traveled abroad. Later, she changed her story, falsely claiming he had planned to take his own life. Suspicious, their daughter reported him missing, prompting an investigation.

Authorities determined that Jeremy’s body had been kept in a cupboard before being wrapped in bin bags and hidden under grass cuttings in the garden. A neighbor had even noticed a foul smell days before the body was found.

On March 13, Maureen Rickards was convicted of murder at Maidstone Crown Court. Prosecutors described her as a manipulative and violent abuser who showed no remorse. She is set to be sentenced on April 9.

#Clique, what are your thoughts?