Killer In The Family

In September 1971 in South Australia 40 year old Heather Bartholomew, her seven children – Neville, Christine, Sharon, Helen, Gregory Roger and Sandra - her sister Winnis and her 19 month old son Daniel were all killed by Clifford Bartholomew – Heather’s husband and father of six of the eight children he killed.

Known at the time as the deadliest familicide in Australian history – Bartholomew was arrested and sentenced for the murder of his wife. Although given a life sentence he ended up serving less than 8 years. Once out of prison Bartholomew changed his name, married again and was stepfather to children who were similar ages to his children that he killed. His second family had no idea that he had murdered so many people until he and his wife died.

A horrific family annihilator who was given a second chance by the justice system.

This is the unbelievable story of the Bartholomew Family.


Join me at CrimeCon Birmingham on 25 April. Head to crimecon.co.uk and use my promo code FAMILY to get 10% off your ticket.

Information and support
Samaritans UK Contact Us | Samaritans
Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse (AAFDA) Home - AAFDA
Women’s Aid Home - Women's Aid
National Domestic Abuse Helpline UK 0808 2000 247
Mental health support USA Mental Health America | Homepage | Mental Health America
Domestic abuse helpline USA 1.800.799.SAFE Domestic Violence Support | National Domestic Violence Hotline

References
Heather Alice Betterman Bartholomew (1931-1971) - Find a Grave Memorial
Mass murderer who killed his seven biological kids remembered as a 'gentleman' by adopted children | Daily Mail Online
How one family's mild-mannered pop turned out to be a killer | that's life!
Hope Forest shooting - Wikipedia
THE SECRET LIFE OF 'POPPY CLIFF' - The RED HEART Movement
Crime Reel podcast https://youtu.be/wdkwKr1H7kA?si=Tfyd2DvvS_-qqG7U
Clifford Bartholomew murdered 10 members of his family.
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In February 2010, Susan McFall and her 18 year old daughter Francesca Frankie McFall were killed by husband and father Hugh McFall.

Apparently fearing the loss of his business and social and financial failure, McFall beat his wife and daughter to death before taking his own life. He called 999 before he took his own life and police attended the family home very quickly.

Neighbours and family couldn’t believe that McFall did what he did.

This is the story of the McFall family.


Join me at CrimeCon Birmingham on 25 April. Head to crimecon.co.uk and use my promo code FAMILY to get 10% off your ticket.

Information and support
Samaritans UK Contact Us | Samaritans
Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse (AAFDA) Home - AAFDA
Women’s Aid Home - Women's Aid
National Domestic Abuse Helpline UK 0808 2000 247
Mental health support USA Mental Health America | Homepage | Mental Health America
Domestic abuse helpline USA 1.800.799.SAFE Domestic Violence Support | National Domestic Violence Hotline

References
Carnage in Shropshire as man slaughters his family | The Independent | The Independent

Family death father 'overcharged customer £500,000' - BBC News

'I hope I rot in hell': father's suicide note after killing wife and daughter | Crime | The Guardian

McFall murder house put on market | Shropshire Star

Oswestry florist beat wife and daughter to death - BBC News

Employer's tribute to Susan McFall | Shropshire Star

Family pay tribute to tragic dad Hugh | Shropshire Star

Florist who murdered family hoped to go to hell | UK | News | Express.co.uk
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In February 2010, 24 year old Stephanie Bellinger and her 10 month old daughter Lili were killed by partner and father of Lili, Anthony Marsh. He claimed that voices in his head told him to kill Stephanie and Lili but others asserted that he was trying to avoid his responsibilities and also had revenge as a motive.

Stephanie and Marsh’s other child - two and half year old boy – was physically unharmed in the attack but left alone by Marsh for over 24 hours.

Despite denying murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility, Marsh was found guilty of the murder of Stephanie and Lili and was sentenced to life imprisonment.

This is the story of Stephanie Bellinger and her daughter Lili.


Join me at CrimeCon Birmingham on 25 April. Head to crimecon.co.uk and use my promo code FAMILY to get 10% off your ticket.

Information and support
Samaritans UK Contact Us | Samaritans
Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse (AAFDA) Home - AAFDA
Women’s Aid Home - Women's Aid
National Domestic Abuse Helpline UK 0808 2000 247
Mental health support USA Mental Health America | Homepage | Mental Health America
Domestic abuse helpline USA 1.800.799.SAFE Domestic Violence Support | National Domestic Violence Hotline

References
Knifeman killed girlfriend and baby | The Independent | The Independent

Man guilty of murdering partner and child in Totton - BBC News

Life for mother and baby murderer | London Evening Standard | The Standard

Anthony Marsh was was 'a family man' say former colleagues | Daily Echo

Anthony Marsh claimed voices made him kill Stephanie Bellinger and baby Lili | Daily Echo

Anthony Marsh sentenced to 26 years for murders of Stephanie Bellinger and baby Lili | Daily Echo

Killer of girlfriend and baby daughter jailed for life | UK news | The Guardian

Femicide Census reveals half of UK women killed by men die at hands of partner or ex | End Violence Against Women

A Comprehensive Analysis of Factors Associated with Intimate Partner Femicide: A Systematic Review - PMC
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In November 2019, 28 year old Jennifer Rothwell was killed by husband Beau Rothwell – she was six weeks pregnant with his baby.

Having googled "What to do if your husband is upset you are pregnant” before she was killed Jennifer wasn’t sure if Rothwell wanted their baby.

Although he claimed he didn’t plan the murder, Rothwell was clearly an escapee family annihilator who planned to kill his wife and unborn child to continue a life with another woman. He is now serving life in prison.

This is the story of Jennifer Rothwell.


Join me at CrimeCon Birmingham on 25 April. Head to crimecon.co.uk and use my promo code FAMILY to get 10% off your ticket.

Information and support
Samaritans UK Contact Us | Samaritans
Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse (AAFDA) Home - AAFDA
Women’s Aid Home - Women's Aid
National Domestic Abuse Helpline UK 0808 2000 247
Mental health support USA Mental Health America | Homepage | Mental Health America
Domestic abuse helpline USA 1.800.799.SAFE Domestic Violence Support | National Domestic Violence Hotline

References
A Comprehensive Review of Intimate Partner Violence During Pregnancy and Its Adverse Effects on Maternal and Fetal Health - PMC

Acknowledging a persistent truth: domestic violence in pregnancy - PMC

Beau Rothwell: Husband killed pregnant wife after making pros and cons list about leaving her | The Independent

Engineer Beau Rothwell Convicted of 2019 Murder

Jennifer Rothwell Obituary (2019) - Saint Louis, MO - Cremation Society of St. Louis

Woman Googled: 'What to do if your husband is upset you are pregnant,' killed by husband

Beau Rothwell Gets Life In Wife Jennifer Rothwell's Murder

State of Missouri, Respondent, v. Beau Rothwell, Appellant. :: 2024 :: Missouri Court of Appeals Decisions :: Missouri Case Law :: Missouri Law :: U.S. Law :: Justia
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In January 2023 46 year old Athalia Crayton, her 18 year old son Kasin and her 16 year old daughter and 10 year old son were all shot and killed by husband and father Robert Crayton. He then took his own life.

Crayton was someone who struggled with mental health issues with police having attended the Crayton’s house five times in the years before the murders with one time resulting in an involuntary commitment of Crayton. The devastation of his mental health issues came to a head in that New Year of 2023.

This is the story of the Crayton Family.


Join me at CrimeCon Birmingham on 25 April. Head to crimecon.co.uk and use my promo code FAMILY to get 10% off your ticket.

Information and support
Samaritans UK Contact Us | Samaritans
Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse (AAFDA) Home - AAFDA
Women’s Aid Home - Women's Aid
National Domestic Abuse Helpline UK 0808 2000 247
Mental health support USA Mental Health America | Homepage | Mental Health America
Domestic abuse helpline USA 1.800.799.SAFE Domestic Violence Support | National Domestic Violence Hotline

References
Robert Crayton - IMDb

Police identify North Carolina father who killed his family before turning gun on himself | Daily Mail Online

Police: Father killed family in High Point NC murder-suicide | Charlotte Observer

Dad Was Involuntarily Committed a Year Before He Killed Wife, 3 Children & Himself – Crime Online

True Crime Society - Actor Robert Crayton killed his family in a murder-suicide

Man kills his wife and 3 children in North Carolina murder-suicide, officials say

Update: Police say High Point man killed wife and 3 children before turning gun on himself

5 dead after man shoots and kills wife and 3 children: Police - ABC News

Fox 8 news piece https://youtu.be/SZwKuSRF1HQ

High Point, North Carolina - Wikipedia

Athalia A. Crayton (1976-2023) - Find a Grave Memorial

Man kills his wife and 3 children in North Carolina murder-suicide, officials say
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