The physique of a pregnant lady murdered by her husband greater than twenty years in the past has been found buried in a again backyard. Debbie Griggs was 34 years previous when she disappeared from her dwelling in Deal, Kent in Could 1999.
Her husband, Andrew Giggs, was sentenced to life in jail for her homicide 20 years later in October 2019. He was discovered responsible of the crime following a chilly case assessment by investigators from the Kent and Essex Severe Crime Directorate, nevertheless Debbie's physique remained lacking.
Two weeks in the past, authorities acquired a tip-off suggesting that her stays could also be hidden within the backyard of a home in St Leonards in Dorset, the place Griggs had moved in 2001. On Wednesday, October 5, police uncovered human stays together with tooth fragments which specialist odonatologists had been in a position to affirm had belonged to Debbie, the Mirror experiences.
Detective Chief Inspector Neil Kimber of the Kent and Essex Severe Crime Directorate mentioned: "It's now greater than 20 years since Debbie Griggs was murdered by her husband however we've by no means given up hope of someday discovering her stays and giving her family members some closure.
"Andrew Griggs denied being liable for his spouse's disappearance however this discovery is additional proof that he was mendacity all alongside, inflicting even higher anguish for everybody who knew and beloved Debbie. While they proceed to mourn her tragic loss to at the present time, I hope they will take some consolation within the information that she will now be laid to relaxation.
"We'll proceed to maintain Debbie's household up to date on the progress of our ongoing inquiries and supply help to them at this troublesome time."
Kent Police says additional exams will now be carried out to determine the reason for her loss of life and enquiries will even be made to determine how Debbie’s stays got here to be on the property. Andrew Griggs was discovered responsible of spouse Debbie's homicide following a five-day trial at Canterbury Crown Courtroom in 2019.
Griggs had denied homicide and claimed to be asleep when his spouse left dwelling for the final time. Justice Robin Spencer, sentencing Griggs, mentioned on the time: "Her physique has by no means been discovered, solely you understand how you killed her and the place you disposed of her physique.
"You advised lie after lie within the witness field, simply as you probably did on the time of Debbie's disappearance. In murdering your spouse you destroyed the lifetime of that unborn little one as effectively.
"I strongly suspect that you just dumped her physique at sea. You knew that stretch of coast just like the again of your hand. It might not have been troublesome to weigh her physique down in order that it sank."
Det Chief Insp Kaye Braybrook of the Kent and Essex critical crime directorate mentioned afterwards: "Debbie Griggs was a loving mom of three younger sons and with a fourth little one on the best way. The jury heard from numerous witnesses who all agreed she would have by no means deserted them, and was not the depressed, unstable and violent particular person Andrew Griggs has gone to nice lengths to color her as.
"Whereas Debbie’s physique has by no means been discovered, we're sure she died by the hands of her husband. There is no such thing as a different believable rationalization as to what occurred to her, nor every other one who is prone to have been liable for her disappearance.
"Andrew Griggs has confirmed himself to be a callous and manipulative particular person who has gone to nice lengths to destroy his spouse’s popularity."
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