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In early May 1999 34 year old mother of three Debbie Griggs was reported missing from Deal in Kent. She was 18 weeks pregnant with her fourth child. Her husband Andrew Griggs told police that Debbie left their house after an argument just never came back.
Although police doubted Griggs story of events, they didn’t have enough evidence to charge him at the time as the search for Debbie continued to turn up nothing. It would take her family over 20 years to finally see justice.
Prompted by Debbie’s family to re-investigate in 2015, Kent Police Cold Case team took up Debbie’s case.
What they found was evidence of coercive control, sexual abuse by Griggs and forensic evidence that meant they could finally arrest Debbie’s husband for her murder. Griggs was later convicted of her murder and started serving a prison sentence.
In 2022, police received a new lead on where Debbie’s body might be – from the most unexpected source – one of Debbie’s now adult children.
The body of Debbie and her 18 week old unborn baby was found in the garden of Griggs’ house in Dorset that he moved into in 2001. She was finally laid to rest.
This is the story of Debbie Griggs.
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
The vanishing of Debbie Griggs documentary https://youtu.be/yJEKJv05vqo?si=-eC5CfoudLJphGal
Andrew Griggs: The wife killer who escaped justice for 20 years - BBC News
Debbie Griggs death: Murder accused 'was having sex with girl, 15' - BBC News
Andrew Griggs: Killer who hid pregnant wife’s body under patio for 23 years asked son to dig up her remains | The Independent
Debbie Griggs: Remains found of woman murdered by husband in 1999 - BBC News
Extended prison sentence for murderer | The Crown Prosecution Service
'People say I'm naive and in denial': Woman married to convicted killer she says is a 'true gentleman' still does not believe he murdered his first wife | Daily Mail Online
Documentary The Vanishing of Debbie Griggs to air on Sky Crime this weekend
25 years on: Kent Police detectives on finding Debbie Griggs and bringing killer husband Andrew Griggs to justice
Andrew Griggs jailed for murdering pregnant wife Debbie - BBC News
Credits
Hosted and created by Clare Laxton @ladylaxton
Produced by Clare Laxton
Part of W!ZARD Studios @wizradio
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