Bio

George Stephenson was born in 1951 in England. He grew up in a challenging environment. As he grew older, Stephenson had a few run-ins with the law. He was jailed multiple times for various offenses, including burglary, fraud, and assaulting a police officer.

In the summer of 1986, Stephenson and his wife were hired by an elderly couple named Joseph and Hilda Cleaver. He worked as a handyman for them at their home in Fordingbridge. However, Stephenson's employment did not last long. He was dismissed from his job after being caught beating his wife. Following his dismissal, his wife left him, which caused him a great deal of distress.

After losing his job and facing personal issues, Stephenson began to develop a plan. He had learned that the Cleavers kept guns in their house, and he saw an opportunity to steal them. His previous employment gave him knowledge of the Cleavers' routine. Stephenson knew that they often left their front door unlocked during dinner, which made it easy for him to plan his next move.

Murder Story

On September 1, 1986, George Stephenson, along with two accomplices, entered the home of Joseph and Hilda Cleaver in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, during dinner. They were armed and forced the Cleaver family and their live-in nurse, Margaret Murphy, upstairs. The victims were tied up and gagged.

The attackers searched the house for valuables, taking items like a television and several guns. During the ordeal, Wendy Cleaver was raped by the group and then strangled. Following this, the gang doused the remaining victims with petrol and set them on fire.

After the crime, the couple's poodle was found injured inside the house. The next day, when workers arrived at the house, they saw smoke pouring from the windows and discovered the aftermath of the attack. The police were notified, and investigating officers found evidence that pointed back to the attackers.

Stephenson and his accomplices were quickly identified as suspects. They had previously worked for the Cleaver family but had been dismissed shortly before the murders. A nationwide manhunt was put in place for George Stephenson, who later turned himself in after seeing his picture in the newspaper.

In the trial that followed, Stephenson and the Dalys were charged with multiple counts of murder, robbery, and rape. Evidence presented included testimonies from the accomplices, indicating Stephenson's leadership in the crime. In October 1987, Stephenson was sentenced to six life sentences for his involvement in the murders. The other two men received differing sentences for their roles in the crime.