A man has admitted to murdering his wife, who he welcomed a daughter with just months earlier via IVF treatment. Matthew Fisher, 29, was said to have murdered Abi Fisher between July 7 and July 10 this year by strangulation.
School teacher Abi from Castleford was last seen leaving her home in Walton Park Street on July 8 around midnight but did not tell anyone where she was going, her family told police. West Yorkshire Police (WYP) launched a missing person investigation, and the community in Castleford conducted searches to try and find the mum-of-one.
On July 11, the force confirmed they had found Abi's body in undergrowth off Southmoor Road, near Brierley, South Yorkshire the day before, reports YorkshireLive. Fisher was arrested and charged.
Read more: Detectives continue to investigate man over death of young woman
During the search for Abi he had issued a vile plea for 'help', the court heard. He posted on Facebook: "Has anyone seen Abi if you have can you please let me know or get her to give me a ring." In January this year, the couple welcomed their daughter, Sydney, who was conceived through IVF.
Matthew appeared via a video link from HMP Leeds for a plea, trial and preparation hearing at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday (September 13) where he was arraigned and pleaded guilty to Abi's murder. His honour Judge Tom Bayliss QC told Fisher he would be given a life sentence, but the case would need to be adjourned until November 10.
He said: "You have pleaded guilty to the murder of Abi Fisher. The sentence for murder is fixed by law to be imprisonment for life and in due course I will pass a sentence of life imprisonment upon you.
"It is necessary for a judge sentencing to set a minimum term which cannot be reduced and the minimum period before which the Parole Board will be able to decide when you ae fit to be released. Whenever that is, and it is to that end that I am adjourning.
"The sentence will be life imprisonment, come what may. You will be sentenced on the 10th November. There are certain matters that need to be considered before then but by then I will be in a position I hope to sentence you."
In an emotional tribute released after her death, Abi's heartbroken family described her as a "beautiful angel" and promised to bring up her baby girl "the way she would." In a statement, they said: "Words cannot describe how utterly devastated we are at the loss of you.
"We miss you dearly. We promise to make you proud every single day, and will continue to bring up your amazing little baby girl the way you would.
“Heaven may have gained an angel but we have lost you and that for us seems like the most unjust act to happen. We as a family would like to thank every single person who showed enough heart and love to look for our precious angel. Words will never describe how much this means.
“For now our beautiful angel. We love you so much.”
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