A young footballer took his own life after discovering his late mother was a victim of David Fuller. Jay Carr, 20, suffered from mental health problems when he was told by police his mother had been abused by double murderer Fuller after her death.
Fuller was sentenced to two whole life sentences in December 2021 for killing Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, in 1987. He was also given concurrent sentences worth 12 years for sexual offences against 78 dead women at mortuaries in Tunbridge Wells Hospital and at the former Kent and Sussex Hospital between 2008 and 2020.
Jay’s family believe he should not have been told about his mother being a victim of Fuller, given his existing mental health issues. He was discovered by police in a wooded area near his home in Snodland, Kent, on September 20 after going missing the previous day.
At an inquest at Maidstone’s County Hall today (Wed), a coroner was told the 20-year-old was upset at the news of his mother’s fate. Shahram Sharghy, a barrister representing his family, said a note left by Jay referenced the death of his mum.
He told the court: “Jay took the death of his mother and the circumstances of her death extremely hard. The information provided clearly had a significant impact which spiralled over the subsequent months, which led to him taking his own life.
“The family don’t accept that it was at their suggestion that Jay and other family members should be told the information.” However, DS Jon Wheeler, one of the family liaison officers from Kent Police who delivered the news, said Jay’s father Danny agreed his son should be told about Fuller’s abuse.
Through their lawyers, the family urged the coroner to make a narrative conclusion. But the coroner said the impact of the news Jay was given in 2021 was a factor in his death.
Coroner James Dillon said: “A conclusion of suicide is the only appropriate conclusion I can draw. Jay Carr took his own life by way of hanging at Holly Hill Wood and was found deceased on September 20, 2022.
“His mental health had deteriorated since October after he learnt of facts about his late mother. It’s a conclusion of suicide.”
Following Jay’s death, flowers and a bottle of beer were put near the wood near where his body was found. The car valet and builder was described as a “ray of sunshine” by friends, while teammates at Aylesford Football Club also paid tribute to the much-loved player, describing him as a “special person” on and off the pitch.
Connie Horton, who became friends with Jay when they were both at Wrotham School, said: “Jay loved having a laugh down at the pub with his mates. I never saw him down, he always had a smile on his face. He was a ray of sunshine.”
In memory of Jay, a charity football match is being played Ide Hill Select XV will play Jay Carr Select XV at Snodland Town Football Club on July 23 to raise money for West Kent Mind. Police discovered Fuller sexually abused the dead bodies of at least 102 women and children while working as an electrician at a hospital.
But the now 68-year-old’s shocking crimes came to light after he was linked to one of Britain’s longest unsolved double killings more than 30 years ago. In December 2021 he was handed a whole life term in prison after admitting killing Wendy Knell, 25, and waitress Caroline Pierce, 20.
During the police investigation Fuller was linked to the 30-year cold cases by a DNA breakthrough that then led police to his stash of sickening recordings of himself abusing corpses. Between 2008 and 2020, Fuller sexually assaulted up to 100 female bodies aged from nine and 100 years old in hospital mortuaries controlled by the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.
An independent inquiry is currently investigating how Fuller was able to carry out his crimes undetected.
