Police hope to find the body of Fred West victim Mary Bastholm, as excavation work begins at The Clean Plate cafe.
Mary Bastholm, who has been missing since 1968, was a waitress at the Clean Plate Cafe. Serial Killer Fred West frequently visited the cafe with ‘possible evidence’ suggesting a body is buried there.
Trevor McDonald was filming a crime documentary when he first became aware of potential evidence. The company made contact with the police who brought in sniffer dogs and ground penetrating radar to scan the cafe. One of the findings was a blue material buried within an area of the cellar.
Mary Bastholm wearing a blue coat on the day of her disappearance in January 1968. Retired reporter Alan Watkins believes he was the last person to see Mary alive. This sighting was minutes before the 15 year old was picked up and driven away whilst waiting for a bus 53 years ago.
Alan rung the police the next day but officers never made contact with him for a follow up statement. Mary’s disappearance has plagued officers for five decades. Forensic officers are currently on the fourth day of investigation within the city centre eatery. Yesterday a fireplace was removed from the cafe basement, where it is believed Fred may have laid a new concrete floor weeks before Mary’s disappearance.
It has been a long time belief that Mary is a victim of Fred and Rose West, yet her body has never been discovered. Fred’s son Stephen West claims his father confessed to the killing of Mary weeks before killing himself, along with 30 other women.
Fred West and Rose West – Cromwell Street Killers
Fred and Rose West are some of the most prolific killers within the UK. Their marital home – 25 Cromwell Street – is dubbed the House of Horrors. After Fred purchased the house off of the council, for £7,000, the couple began torturing and killing their victims.
Between the years of 1967 and 1987; Fred West and Rose West kidnapped, beat, tortured, sexually assaulted and murdered 12 people. Fred admitted to the murder of another 28 to his son Stephen, although never confessed.
Within the list of people were Rose’s own children and step children, Fred’s nanny and his first wife.
In 1995, police found the bodies of the victims in both the home and garden of Cromwell Street. They were buried alongside the tools used for their depraved acts. Fred West was convicted of 12 murders, but took his own life before he was sentenced. His wife, Rose, was found guilty of 10 murders and is currently serving a life sentence in West Yorkshire.
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