{{Short description|British murderer and necrophile}} {{for|the politician from Montana, USA|David Fuller (politician)}} {{for|the American rapist and murderer|Murder of Kacie Woody}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}} {{Infobox criminal | name = David Fuller | image = | caption = Fuller following his arrest in 2020 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1954|09|04}} | birth_place = Deal, Kent, England | death_date = | death_place = | death_cause = | education = | occupation = Hospital electrician (supervisor) | criminal_charge = Murder, Sexual penetration of a corpse, Possession of extreme pornographic images | known_for = The Bedsit Murders | conviction_penalty = Life imprisonment (whole life order) | conviction_status = Imprisoned | conviction = | victims = 2 Murdered | apprehended = 3 December 2020 | imprisoned = HMP Frankland | date = 1987 | spouse = | prison = }} '''David Fuller''' (born 4 September 1954) is an English convicted murderer and necrophile.<ref name=C>{{cite news |url=https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/updated-sentence-david-fuller-hospital-electrician-convicted-cold-case-double-murder-and |access-date=15 December 2021 |title=Hospital electrician convicted of cold-case double murder and 51 sexual offences |publisher=Crown Prosecution Service |date=15 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215153948/https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/updated-sentence-david-fuller-hospital-electrician-convicted-cold-case-double-murder-and |archive-date=15 December 2021 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2021, he was convicted of the murders of Wendy Knell, 25, and Caroline Pierce, 20, whom he strangled and sexually assaulted after breaking into their homes, months apart in 1987, in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, in what became known as the Bedsit murders.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58250043|access-date=25 January 2022|title=The double murderer who sexually abused the dead for decades|publisher=BBC News |date=4 November 2021}}</ref><ref name="C" /> The killer's DNA had been known since a cold case review in 2007, and analysis of the samples in the two cases would later prove that the murders were committed by the same unidentified perpetrator.<ref>{{cite news |title=DNA profile for cold case killer |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/kent/6954760.stm |access-date=8 July 2022 |work=BBC News |date=20 August 2007}}</ref><ref name="CaughtwithDNA">{{cite news |title=David Fuller trial: Advances in DNA analysis caught women's killer |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-59166506 |access-date=8 July 2022 |work=BBC News |date=4 November 2021}}</ref> Fuller was eventually identified as the perpetrator in 2020 when a match was made between his DNA and the samples from the case.<ref name="CaughtwithDNA" /> When finally apprehended Fuller also received 12 years for mortuary offences, having recorded himself abusing the bodies of more than 100 female corpses, over the course of his employment as an electrician at the Kent and Sussex Hospital, also in Tunbridge Wells, and the Tunbridge Wells Hospital in nearby Pembury which replaced it.<ref name="C" />
He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order on 15 December 2021, meaning that he will serve his life sentence without the possibility of parole.<ref name="C" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-59601656|access-date=15 December 2021|title=Killer who abused mortuary bodies will die in jail |publisher=bbc.co.uk |date=15 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-59176555 |title=David Fuller: MPs call for public inquiry into mortuary abuse |date=5 November 2021 |publisher=www.bbc.co.uk |access-date=16 December 2021}}</ref>
In October 2021, Fuller was charged with an additional 16 offences committed at mortuaries in the now-closed Kent and Sussex Hospital, and its successor, the Tunbridge Wells hospital at Pembury, between 2007 and 2020,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-63132050 |title=David Fuller: Double murderer charged with more mortuary abuse |publisher=bbc.co.uk |date=4 October 2021 |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref> and pleaded guilty to the charges on 3 November 2022.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-63488309 |title=David Fuller: Double murderer pleads guilty to more mortuary sexual abuse |publisher=bbc.co.uk |date=3 November 2021 |access-date=26 December 2022}}</ref> He is imprisoned at HMP Frankland, alongside other prisoners such as Wayne Couzens and Michael Stone.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/behind-the-prison-walls-housing-kents-most-notorious-killer-267663/ |title=Inside HMP Frankland where Wayne Couzens, David Fuller and Michael Stone are locked up |last=Axtell |first=Sean |date=25 May 2022 |access-date=28 December 2022}}</ref>
== The David Fuller Inquiry == In November 2021 Sajid Javid announced that an independent inquiry would investigate how Fuller's crimes went unnoticed. The inquiry was formally set up in January 2022 with Sir Jonathan Michael chairing, and Rebecca Chaloner supporting as secretary.<ref>{{cite web | title=The Inquiry Team – The Independent Inquiry into the issues raised by the David Fuller case | website=The Independent Inquiry into the issues raised by the David Fuller case | url=https://fullerinquiry.wpenginepowered.com/the-inquiry-team/ | ref={{sfnref | The Independent Inquiry into the issues raised by the David Fuller case}} | access-date=15 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=David Fuller: Independent inquiry announced into mortuary abuse | website=BBC News | date=8 November 2021 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-59207611 | ref={{sfnref | BBC News | 2021}} | access-date=15 July 2024}}</ref> The inquiry was split into two phases, with Phase 1 focusing on Fuller's offenses at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. Phase 2 would focus on the entire NHS and what procedures could be put in place to protect the deceased in the future.<ref>{{cite web | title=FAQs – The Independent Inquiry into the issues raised by the David Fuller case | website=The Independent Inquiry into the issues raised by the David Fuller case | date=28 November 2023 | url=https://fuller.independent-inquiry.uk/faqs/ | ref={{sfnref | The Independent Inquiry into the issues raised by the David Fuller case | 2023}} | access-date=15 July 2024}}</ref>
The Phase 1 report was published on the 28th of November 2023, making 17 recommendations to prevent similar crimes happening again within the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Trust. Two hundred witnesses were interviewed or submitted written evidence.<ref>{{cite web | title=Phase 1 – The Independent Inquiry into the issues raised by the David Fuller case | website=The Independent Inquiry into the issues raised by the David Fuller case | date=28 November 2023 | url=https://fuller.independent-inquiry.uk/report/ | ref={{sfnref | The Independent Inquiry into the issues raised by the David Fuller case | 2023}} | access-date=15 July 2024}}</ref> It was found that Fuller regularly worked beyond his contracted hours, and undertook tasks that were unnecessary.<ref>{{cite web | last=Rawlinson | first=Kevin | title=NHS failings enabled necrophiliac murderer to offend for 15 years, inquiry finds | website=the Guardian | date=28 November 2023 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/nov/28/david-fuller-hospital-failings-necrophiliac-murderer-offend-inquiry | access-date=15 July 2024}}</ref>
Phase 2 of the enquiry was published in July 2025.<ref>{{cite web | last=Employers | first=NHS | title=Fuller Inquiry phase two report published | website=NHS Employers | date=22 July 2025 | url=https://www.nhsemployers.org/news/fuller-inquiry-phase-two-report-published | access-date=28 December 2025}}</ref> The report found that England had no organisations that are primarily tasked with protecting the dignity and security of the dead.<ref>{{cite web | last=Davis | first=Margaret | title=Government urged to introduce 'statutory' regulations – David Fuller inquiry | website=The Independent | date=15 July 2025 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/government-david-fuller-nhs-england-cctv-b2789320.html | access-date=28 December 2025}}</ref> The enquiry found that the majority of NHS mortuaries still did not have CCTV installed due to ethical concerns about the dignity of the dead. Fuller had previously admitted had there been CCTV in the mortuary he frequented, he would not have committed the crimes.<ref>{{cite web |date=15 July 2025 |title=Crimes of necrophiliac killer could be repeated, inquiry finds |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/15/crimes-necrophiliac-killer-david-fuller-inquiry/ |access-date=28 December 2025 |website=The Telegraph |language=}}</ref> A further 75 recommendations were made, including that the government should take responsibility to ensure the implementation of the recommendations across various organisations and services.<ref>{{cite web | title=David Fuller inquiry: phase 2 report | website=GOV.UK | date=15 July 2025 | url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/david-fuller-inquiry-phase-2-report | access-date=28 December 2025}}</ref>
== Personal life == Fuller was born in Deal, Kent, England<ref name="u095">{{cite web | last=Hooper | first=Paul | title=Necrophiliac murder accused was 'kind and gentle' | website=Kent Online | date=3 November 2021 | url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/tunbridge-wells/news/necrophiliac-murder-accused-was-kind-and-gentle-256806/ | access-date=18 June 2025}}</ref> and was married three times.<ref>{{cite web | title=David Fuller 'regularly cheated on his wife', murder trial hears | website=Kent Live | date=3 November 2021 | url=https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/david-fuller-regularly-cheated-wife-6157066 | access-date=18 June 2025}}</ref> Fuller had previously worked with the Ministry of Defence as part of a four year apprenticeship.<ref name="u095"/>
He was interested in birdwatching, cycling, live music and photography. He was an unofficial photographer for London rock band Cutting Crew and in 1985 accompanied them on tour with his second wife Sally.<ref name="kirk">{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/david-fuller-sentence-trial-family-kent-morgue-b971925.html |title=David Fuller: the story of the 'morgue monster' whose crimes repulsed |last=Kirk |first=Tristan |date=15 December 2021 |work='Evening Standard |url-access=registration |access-date=28 December 2022}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fuller, David}} Category:1954 births Category:20th-century British criminals Category:British male criminals Category:British people convicted of murder Category:English prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment Category:Criminals from Kent Category:History of mental health in the United Kingdom Category:Living people Category:Necrophiles Category:People convicted of murder by England and Wales Category:Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by England and Wales Category:Prisoners sentenced to whole life orders by England and Wales