Mersea murderer 'would have killed again', says police chief

Detective Chief Superintendent Rob Kirby, Essex Police’s head of major crime, gave an interview outside Chelmsford police station on Wednesday after Luke D’Wit was convicted of murdering Stephen and Carol Baxter.

D’Wit, 34, used fentanyl patches to poison the couple in April last year, rewriting their will the day before they were found dead so he could inherit Mrs Baxter’s shower mat business.

Killer - Luke D'Wit's murders were described as 'cold and calculated' (Image: Essex Police)

In the months leading up to their death, D’Wit manipulated the Baxter family using fake online accounts posing as medical experts and sufferers of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis – an autoimmune disease Mrs Baxter had been diagnosed with.

During a six-week trial, D’Wit said the fake personas had been Mr Baxter’s idea.

WhatsApp voice notes of D’Wit speaking in a female persona voice were also played to the court, though these voice notes were not sent to the family.

After D'Wit was convicted, Mr Kirby said: “From a policing point of view, the deaths were incredibly unusual.

“There was no obvious sign of injury, and no suggestion of any third-party involvement.

“There was no bloody murder scene or murder weapon, but these were cold and calculated murders carried out by a dangerous man.

“D’Wit is one of the most dangerous men I have come across, and had he not been caught, he would have committed further murders.”

He continued by saying D’Wit could have used fentanyl patches – which D'Wit had hoarded after they were prescribed to his late father – for other murders.

Murdered - Stephen and Carol Baxter were poisoned at their home in Victory Road, West Mersea (Image: Press Association)

He said: “Historically, we have seen a serial killer will have a period of time after they murder someone where they rest, and then kill again.

“I am not qualified to understand why they would do that, but D'Wit certainly enjoyed controlling people in a subtle and unobvious way.

“If he was never going to kill again, we would expect him to have lost that evidence.

“For me, that goes to say why he would have that on him some time later, when the obvious thing to would be to dispose of it.”

Det Supt Kirby added the work which went into securing a conviction against D'Wit was some of the best - but also most complicated - he has seen.

She added: “This was a significant and unique police investigation involving many teams across the force. The download and analysis of D’Wit’s digital devices was one of the most complex we have seen.

“The holes in D’Wit’s false account were opened to expose lies, deceit and calculated planning and he can now look forward to a very long prison sentence.

“We cannot forget the devastating impact this has had on Stephen and Carol’s family and our thoughts will remain with them as they – I truly hope – continue to rebuild their lives. 

“I hope there is some comfort for them in knowing that the man responsible is now where he should be.”