S16E06 | Brenda Venables (Kempsey, Worcestershire, 1982)

In May 1982, 48-year-old Brenda Venables seemingly vanished from the farmhouse she shared with her husband, David, in rural Worcestershire. Her husband claimed she had been struggling with her mental health and suggested she may have taken her own life, leaving behind a shroud of uncertainty and heartbreak.

For decades, Brenda’s disappearance remained a mystery, until a shocking discovery was made in July 2019 after some routine maintenance on the farm’s septic tank revealed a horrifying truth that had been hidden in plain sight for nearly 40 years.

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Intro music:⁣
David John Brady - 'Throw Down the Gauntlet'⁣
davidjohnbrady.com

Disclaimer:
The case discussed in this podcast episode is real and represents the worst day in many people's lives. I aim to cover such stories with a victim-focused approach, using information from publicly available sources. While I strive for accuracy, some details may vary depending on the sources used. You can find the sources for each episode on my website. Due to the nature of the content, listener discretion is advised. Thank you for your understanding and support.

References:
Brenda Venables: Husband denies Kempsey septic tank murder. (2021, September 7). BBC News. Retrieved January 20, 2025, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-58476373
David Venables guilty of wife’s septic tank murder 40 years ago. (2022, July 15). BBC News. Retrieved January 20, 2025, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-62153660
Duell, M., Dolan, A., Duffin, C., & Norton, J. (2019, July 19). Human bones found in septic tank at farmer’s home where his wife vanished 37 years ago belong to adult FEMALE, police confirm. Mail Online. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7265269/Human-bones-septic-tank-female-police-confirm.html
Greenway, S. (2022, July 15). Septic tank murder case: Worcestershire pensioner guilty. Hereford Times. https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/20283687.david-venables-found-guilty-murdering-wife-brenda/
Husband of Kempsey woman missing since 1982 guilty of her murder. (2022, July 15). Worcester Observer. https://worcesterobserver.co.uk/news/husband-of-kempsey-woman-missing-since-1982-guilty-of-her-murder/
Lodge, M. (2022, June 13). Pig farmer, 89, “murdered wife then reported her missing in 1982 so he could rekindle affair with his mother’s former carer. . .. 37 years before bra and knickers were discovered with human bones in his septic tank”, court hears. Mail Online. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10896175/Retired-farmer-89-murdered-wife-hid-body-septic-tank-1982-rekindle-affair-court-hears.html
Man jailed for 18 years for murdering his wife in 1982. (2022, July 20). West Mercia Police. Retrieved January 20, 2025, from https://www.westmercia.police.uk/news/west-mercia/news/2022/july/man-jailed-for-18-years-for-murdering-his-wife-in-1982/
Merrifield, R. (2021, June 8). Husband charged with murder of wife found in septic tank 40 years after she vanished. The Mirror. Retrieved January 20, 2025, from https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/husband-charged-murder-wife-found-24275473
Merrifield, R. (2022, June 13). Worker who found “murdered” wife’s bones in septic tank ‘assumed they were from chicken.’ The Mirror. Retrieved January 20, 2025, from https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/worker-who-found-murdered-wifes-27222059
Mrs Justice Tipples DBE. (2022). Regina v David Venables - Sentencing Remarks. In Judiciary of England and Wales. Retrieved January 20, 2025, from https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/R-v-David-Venables-Tipples-J-Sentencing-Remarks-20-07-2022-.pdf
Pensioner charged with 1982 murder of wife bailed ahead of trial next year. (2021, December 16). Jersey Evening Post. Retrieved January 20, 2025, from https://www.jerseyeveningpost.com/morenews/uknews/2021/06/15/pensioner-charged-with-1982-murder-of-wife-bailed-ahead-of-trial-next-year/
Septic tank murder probe: Tributes paid to Kempsey woman. (2021, June 16). BBC News. Retrieved January 20, 2025, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-57502913
Vernalls, R. (2022a, June 13). Ex-farmer accused of wife’s killing ‘got away with murder’ for years, court told. The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/worcester-crown-court-worcestershire-dna-testing-worcester-b2099777.html
Vernalls, R. (2022b, June 13). Pig farmer ‘got away with murder’ of wife for almost 40 years, court told. The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/worcester-crown-court-worcestershire-dna-tests-worcester-fred-west-b2099946.html
Woodland, D. (2023, November 8). Murdered wife’s family sue husband who killed her then hid her body in septic tank for nearly 40 years in bid to win back her fortune. Mail Online. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12724229/murdered-wife-family-sue-killer-husband-body-septic-tank-win-fortune.html