A triple killer who murdered a son and his mother before raping his third victim is facing life behind bars.
Cruel Anthony Russell killed three times in just one week in October 2020 as frantic police carried out one of the largest manhunt seen in recent years leading to his arrest.
The 39-year-old pled guilty to all the three murders, as well as three robberies and wounding of a carjacking victim.
However, today jurors found him guilty of raping his final victim Nicole McGregor - who was 18-weeks pregnant - on the day he killed her. Russell will be sentenced tomorrow (Friday March 11) at Warwick Crown Court.
Det Supt Shaun Edwards, who heads West Midlands Police’s homicide team, told Birmingham Live : “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.”
It began on October 23 when 58-year-old Julie Williams called West Midlands Police after son David Williams, 31, had not been seen since October 21.
On October 25, her sister called police to say Julie was now missing. Officers forced their way into Julie’s house and found her dead on the living room floor after being violently attacked by Russell earlier in the day.
Russell fled Coventry the next day, with money and a mobile phone he had robbed from a 78-year-old man the day before. Officers raided Russell’s home in Riley Square, Coventry, later that day after a tip-off that he had confessed killing the mother and son.
There, they found David’s body hidden under a bed. He had also suffered multiple injuries. A major manhunt was launched for Russell, who lived in the same Coventry road as his first victims.
He used public transport to travel to Kenilworth, where he immediately continued his violent spree by robbing £200 from a 71-year-old woman and dragging her along the ground. The killer again used public transport to travel to Leamington Spa at about 2.45pm, where he struck up friendships with drug users.
Sadly, Nicole - the third murder victim - was found in woodland on Newbold Comyn in Leamington Spa a few days later. The 31-year-old was 18 weeks pregnant when she was killed by Russell, only hours after he had arrived there.
Russell was last seen leaving Leamington Spa on foot on October 28, where he again preyed on vulnerable 75-year-old man at 2pm. After asking him for directions, Russell followed him into his home and attacked him before making off in his car.
Following a nationwide manhunt, the killer was finally found in Staffordshire in the early hours of October 30. He was sleeping in the car he’d stolen two days earlier.
A major investigation established how Russell killed David first and then his mother because she knew what had happened. When quizzed by police, he remained silent with a blanket over his head.
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