In February 2019, three men were murdered in their homes in Exeter, Devon, in a series of attacks that appeared to have no obvious motive. Eighty-year-old Anthony Payne and 84-year-old twin brothers Dick and Roger Carter had lived ordinary lives, with no known connection to one another. So why had these three men been targeted, and what linked their deaths?
As detectives investigated the Exeter murders, they uncovered a disturbing chain of events involving 27-year-old Alexander Lewis-Ranwell, whose mental health had deteriorated significantly in the days leading up to the killings. He'd already been arrested twice within a short period, and concerns had been raised about his increasingly erratic and violent behaviour. His release from police custody would later become the subject of serious scrutiny, raising difficult questions about mental health services, police procedures and whether these devastating events could have been prevented.
In this episode of British Murders with Stuart Blues, I examine the murders of Anthony Payne, Dick Carter and Roger Carter, the psychiatric history of Alexander Lewis-Ranwell, and the events that led to three innocent men losing their lives. We look at the investigation, the legal battle over Lewis-Ranwell's criminal responsibility, and the ongoing inquest examining the decisions made in the crucial hours before the killings. It's a deeply troubling case that raises important questions about mental illness, public safety and the opportunities that may have existed to prevent this tragedy.
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Disclaimer:
The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.
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