St Ambrose, Whitehall, Bristol - geograph.org.uk - 3739827 — Credit: Dave Kelly · CC BY-SA 2.0
Rebecca Marie Watts, known as Becky Watts, was a 16-year-old student living in St George, Bristol. She was last seen at her home at 18 Crown Hill on the morning of 19 February 2015 by her step-mother, Anjie Galsworthy, who left for a hospital appointment shortly after 11:15. Watts was reported missing the following afternoon. Her phone, laptop and tablet were missing from the house, but she had not taken money or clothing, and had told no one she was leaving.
Avon and Somerset Police launched a public appeal on 22 February 2015, and Watts's father and grandmother made a televised appeal for her return the next day. An online campaign under the hashtag "#FindBecky" spread widely on social media. Searches were conducted across several Bristol neighborhoods, including Barton Hill, Southmead, St George's Park and Troopers Hill, supplemented by volunteer searches and house-to-house inquiries. Police also sought information about a black Vauxhall Zafira seen in the area.
Initial investigation focused on statements from step-brother Nathan Matthews and his girlfriend Shauna Hoare, who were in the house at the time Watts disappeared and said they had heard a door slam but not seen her leave. On 28 February 2015, Matthews and Hoare were arrested in connection with the disappearance, and on 2 March they were re-arrested on suspicion of murder. On 3 March, Watts's dismembered body was discovered at a property in Barton Court, Barton Hill. Matthews was charged with murder on 4 March, and four other individuals were later charged with assisting an offender for allegedly helping hide or dispose of the remains. Hoare was subsequently charged with murder on 22 June 2015, alongside charges of conspiracy to kidnap, preventing lawful burial, and weapons possession; both she and Matthews also faced unrelated charges involving indecent images of children, and Matthews faced additional unrelated charges of sexual assault and voyeurism.
The trial began on 6 October 2015 at Bristol Crown Court. Prosecutors argued Watts was suffocated and then stabbed 15 times during a sexually motivated kidnap plot, after which her body was dismembered over several days using a knife and circular saw, with remains hidden in a neighbor's shed. Matthews admitted killing Watts but claimed it was manslaughter resulting from a kidnap plan gone wrong, insisting Hoare was not involved. Hoare denied any involvement in the killing or dismemberment. The prosecution presented CCTV evidence of the pair's purchases of batteries, a circular saw, and cleaning products in the days surrounding the killing, along with DNA evidence linking both to items found with the remains.
On 11 November 2015, the jury convicted Matthews of murder and Hoare of manslaughter; both were also convicted of conspiracy to kidnap, perverting the course of justice, preventing lawful burial, and possession of stun guns. Two other men were cleared of assisting an offender, while two others had earlier pleaded guilty to the same charge. On 13 November 2015, Matthews was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 33 years, and Hoare received 17 years. The Court of Appeal rejected their appeals on 23 June 2016. Hoare was released on 1 September 2023 after serving half her sentence.
Becky Watts last seen at home at 18 Crown Hill, St George, Bristol; she was killed the same day, according to the prosecution's case.
2015-02-20
Watts reported missing.
2015-02-22
Avon and Somerset Police issue first public appeal for information.
2015-02-23
Watts's father and grandmother appear at press conference appealing for her return.
2015-02-28
Nathan Matthews and Shauna Hoare arrested in connection with the disappearance.
2015-03-02
Matthews and Hoare re-arrested on suspicion of murder.
2015-03-03
Watts's dismembered body found at a property in Barton Court, Barton Hill.
2015-03-04
Matthews charged with murder.
2015-03-06
Four other people charged with assisting an offender.
2015-04-17
Watts's funeral held at St Ambrose Church, Whitehall, Bristol.
2015-06-22
Hoare charged with murder, along with additional charges against both defendants.
2015-10-06
Murder trial begins at Bristol Crown Court.
2015-11-11
Jury finds Matthews guilty of murder and Hoare guilty of manslaughter; both convicted of related charges.
2015-11-13
Matthews sentenced to life imprisonment with a 33-year minimum term; Hoare sentenced to 17 years.
2016-02-05
Karl Demetrius sentenced to 2 years and Jaydene Parsons to 16 months for assisting an offender.
2016-02
Memorial bench unveiled in Watts's memory in Goat's Field, near her home.
2016-03
Darren Galsworthy's memoir about his daughter's life and murder published by HarperCollins.
2016-06-23
Court of Appeal rejects appeals by Matthews and Hoare against convictions and sentences.
2023-09-01
Hoare released from prison after serving half her sentence.
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Titles and descriptions are the creators’ own and may not reflect current legal status; see the dossier above for sourced case facts.
VIDEO
That Chapter / 25 min
The Dark Case of Becky Watts
People
Nathan Matthews
CONVICTED
Step-brother of Becky Watts; convicted of her murder, conspiracy to kidnap, perverting the course of justice, preventing lawful burial, and possession of stun guns; sentenced to life imprisonment with a 33-year minimum term.
Shauna Hoare
CONVICTED
Nathan Matthews's girlfriend; convicted of manslaughter, conspiracy to kidnap, perverting the course of justice, preventing lawful burial, and possession of stun guns; sentenced to 17 years, released in 2023 after serving half her sentence.
Jaydene Parsons
CONVICTED
Pleaded guilty to assisting an offender; owned the shed where remains were stored; sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment.
Becky Watts
VICTIM
16-year-old Bristol student killed in February 2015.
Karl Demetrius
CONVICTED
Pleaded guilty to assisting an offender for storing packages containing Watts's remains; sentenced to 2 years' imprisonment.
Donovan Demetrius
ACQUITTED
Cleared of assisting an offender relating to the moving and storing of Watts's remains.
James Ireland
ACQUITTED
Cleared of assisting an offender relating to the moving and storing of Watts's remains.
Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.
Archival records
archival location
St Ambrose, Whitehall, Bristol - geograph.org.uk - 3739827
Becky Watts, a 16-year-old Bristol student, disappeared from her home in February 2015 and was later found to have been killed, dismembered and hidden by her step-brother Nathan Matthews and his girlfriend Shauna Hoare, both of whom were convicted at trial in November 2015.
Where did the murder happen?
St George, Bristol, England.
Who was convicted?
Nathan Matthews (Step-brother of Becky Watts; convicted of her murder, conspiracy to kidnap, perverting the course of justice, preventing lawful burial, and possession of stun guns; sentenced to life imprisonment with a 33-year minimum term.), Shauna Hoare (Nathan Matthews's girlfriend; convicted of manslaughter, conspiracy to kidnap, perverting the course of justice, preventing lawful burial, and possession of stun guns; sentenced to 17 years, released in 2023 after serving half her sentence.), Jaydene Parsons (Pleaded guilty to assisting an offender; owned the shed where remains were stored; sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment.), and Karl Demetrius (Pleaded guilty to assisting an offender for storing packages containing Watts's remains; sentenced to 2 years' imprisonment.).
