She Claimed He Died in Saudi Arabia. His Body Was in the Backyard.
Maureen Rickards didn't just murder her husband — she planted a cover-up in plain sight. When police uncovered Jeremy Rickards' body stuffed in a duffel bag beneath grass clippings in the couple's backyard, the grim discovery exposed far more than a crime of passion. It revealed a months-long campaign of control, deception, and brutal domestic abuse.
He Didn't Vanish — He Was Hidden
In early June 2024, Jeremy Rickards, 65, vanished from the home in Canterbury, England, that he shared with his wife of 27 years. Tenants in the building last saw him on June 7, looking battered and frail. By July 11, police found his body decomposing in a large canvas bag, tucked beneath a bush at the edge of the yard.
His wife Maureen, 50, had told their daughter that Jeremy had gone to Saudi Arabia. Then, she claimed he had died by suicide there. But investigators found no record of travel. Instead, they found blood-soaked carpet, Maureen's DNA on the bin bags, and a trail of purchases — including cleaning products — made on Jeremy's stolen bank card.
Authorities say she initially stashed his body in a cupboard in her bedroom, where blood soaked through the floor and stained the ceiling of the flat below. She even enlisted a handyman to dump fresh grass cuttings on top of the burial site, helping to mask the smell.
A House of Bruises and Lies
Neighbors had raised eyebrows long before the murder. Jeremy often sported facial injuries — cuts, bruises, black eyes — and brushed off concerns. "Maureen was in a bad mood with me," he once told a neighbor, as reported by The Independent. He seemed fragile, physically and emotionally, and video clips later found on Maureen's phone confirmed what others suspected: a pattern of verbal and physical abuse behind closed doors.
Prosecutors introduced a chilling recording of Maureen striking Jeremy and threatening his life. According to The Crown Prosecution Service, Maureen "recorded herself being aggressive to Jeremy and striking him, on one occasion saying she will do him harm or kill him."
A post-mortem revealed weeks-old strangulation marks, broken ribs, and five fresh stab wounds to his chest. The timeline of his death narrowed to between June 8–26, 2024, thanks in part to entomology evidence that analyzed insect activity on the body.
A Web of Deceit Unravels
After the murder, Maureen didn't stop lying — she doubled down. She used Jeremy's phone to text their daughter, posing as him. When the daughter questioned the tone and asked if her mother had taken over the phone, Maureen claimed Jeremy had died overseas. But the smell in the backyard said otherwise. As soon as police arrived, the act fell apart. When officers discovered the body, Maureen reportedly asked, "What body?" according to the Crown Prosecution Service.
During the trial, James Fisher of the Crown Prosecution Service described Maureen as "a callous abuser" who "subjected Jeremy to unimaginable pain and suffering" and "has never taken responsibility for her actions nor shown any remorse for murdering Jeremy," as reported by PEOPLE.
Justice, Finally Unearthed
A jury convicted Maureen Rickards of murder on March 13, 2025, following her elaborate but unraveling cover-up. Sentencing is set for April 9, 2025. The case serves as a sobering reminder that domestic abuse can escalate into something deadly — no matter who the abuser is.
As Detective Inspector Colin McKeen told The Independent, "This case shows that domestic abuse, whether committed by a man or a woman, can escalate and become fatal and I urge anyone who is experiencing violence at the hands of their partner to report it to the police."
If you or someone you know is in need of support from domestic abuse, go to The Hotline or call 1-800-799-7233.
References: Woman Found Guilty of Killing Her Husband and Hiding His Body in a Duffel Bag in Their Backyard | Woman convicted of murdering husband | Killer wife hid body of dead husband in bushes of their garden
