Shivangi Sinha
The crimes committed by Fred and Rose West left a devastating and long-lasting impact on their children. Growing up in an environment filled with abuse, secrecy, and violence, many of the West children endured not only physical and emotional trauma but also carried the burden of shame and public scrutiny once the truth came to light. Some of them were direct victims, while others were witnesses to the horrors that unfolded inside their house. Netflix’s ‘Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story’ delves into these complexities with sensitivity and depth. The documentary not only traced the timeline of events and the horrific nature of the crimes but also brought forward the perspective of the children who lived through it.
Anne Marie Davis is in Touch With Rose West Even Today
Anne Marie Davis (born Anna Marie West) is the daughter of Fred West and his first wife, Catherine “Rena” Bernadette Costello. She, along with her younger stepsister Charmaine West, first met Rose West when Rose became their nanny. Soon after, Rose moved in with Fred, and the children began living under the same roof. Anne witnessed the disappearances of both Charmaine and her mother and was subjected to horrific abuse by Fred and Rose. At the age of 15, in 1979, she ran away from home. Despite the circumstances, she maintained contact with her parents and siblings for years.
In 1992, she first spoke to the police during an investigation into Fred on abuse allegations, but she later retracted her statement. However, in 1995, she gave powerful testimony against Rose during her trial in October, which proved crucial to the case. Just two weeks after her testimony, Anne tried to kill herself. She has made numerous media appearances over the years, sharing her story in interviews and documentaries. In 1995, she published her memoir, ‘Out of the Shadows,’ which detailed her harrowing upbringing and survival. Sadly, in 1999, she again tried to end her life by drowning but was rescued. Anne has two daughters and was previously married to a man named Chris, though they are now divorced. Despite everything, it has been reported that she continues to visit Rose West in prison.
Heather West Was Killed by Her Parents
Heather West was the eldest biological daughter of Fred and Rose West, born on October 17, 1970. From around the age of nine, she was subjected to physical and sexual abuse by her parents. She tried to run away from home, but was eventually brought back. Despite what she endured, Heather managed to finish her education and graduated from Hucclecote Secondary School in 1986. On June 18, 1987, after receiving a job rejection letter, she was left deeply disappointed. The very next day, when her siblings returned home from school, she had vanished. Fred and Rose offered various conflicting stories, claiming that Heather had left on her own, fallen in with a dangerous crowd, or gone to work elsewhere.
They made no real effort to find her, and any questions about her disappearance were met with vague or intimidating responses. Years later, on February 24, 1994, when police questioned the couple about Heather’s whereabouts, both denied knowing anything. But on February 26, a search of the garden at 25 Cromwell Street revealed that Heather’s remains had been buried there. Fred confessed to her murder, while Rose continued to deny any involvement. However, during her trial in 1995, she was convicted of her role in the crime and sentenced to life in prison.
Mae West is Married and Has Two Kids
Mae West shared a close bond with her siblings, Heather and Stephen, and the three of them had made a pact to protect one another. Like Heather, Mae was subjected to abuse from a young age and often thought about running away. Eventually, she managed to escape the toxic environment, found a job, and began building a stable life with her boyfriend, Rob. The couple even started a mortgage together on a home of their own. However, in February 1994, when the horrifying details of her parents’ crimes came to light, her world came crashing down. She lost her relationship, her home, and much of the stability she had worked so hard to create. In 1995, she co-authored a book with her brother Stephen titled ‘Inside 25 Cromwell Street’ and gave several interviews detailing their experiences. But the media attention soon became overwhelming.
In an effort to reclaim some anonymity, she underwent cosmetic surgery to remove a distinctive beauty mark from her face. Mae remained in contact with her mother, Rose, until 2006. But after confronting her with difficult questions about the past, Rose abruptly cut her off. The emotional toll of the ordeal led Mae to develop agoraphobia around 2013, for which she sought help from Victim Support. In 2018, she published a second book titled ‘Love as Always, Mum xxx,’ which included letters Rose had sent her from prison. Though she has occasionally re-entered the public eye, Mae mostly keeps a low profile. It’s reported that she now lives in a small English town with her husband, Pete. She has two children: a daughter, Amy, who is around 25, and a younger son, Luke, who is about 10 years old.
Stephen West Leads a Quiet Life in Gloucester
Stephen West was the eldest son of Fred and Rose West. While he did not report experiencing sexual abuse, he later revealed that he had suffered physical abuse at the hands of both his parents. Along with his sister Heather, he attempted to run away from home but eventually returned. At the age of 16, he was kicked out of the house and began living independently. He found a job and built what seemed to be a normal life, until the arrest of his father in 1994 changed everything.
On February 26, 1994, just before Fred was taken into custody, he instructed 20-year-old Stephen to look after Rose, sell the family home, and consider making money by selling the story to the press. During Fred’s incarceration, he had frequent conversations with Stephen, and in those exchanges, he disclosed many details, including the revelation that Stephen had unknowingly helped dig Heather’s grave. In December 1995, Stephen and his sister Mae published a memoir titled ‘Inside 25 Cromwell Street: The Terrifying, True Story of Life with Fred and Rose West.’ Stephen gave a few media interviews but largely stayed out of the spotlight. In 2002, reports emerged that he had attempted suicide, highlighting the long-term emotional toll of his upbringing. In 2004, he served a nine-month prison sentence for having a sexual relationship with a minor. Since then, he has kept a very low profile. It is known that he is married, has two children, and continues to live in the Gloucester area of the UK.
Tara West Did Not Face the Same Treatment as Her Siblings
Tara West, one of the younger children of Fred and Rose West, is believed to have been fathered by one of Rose’s clients, rather than Fred himself. Unlike her older siblings, she is said to have been spared the worst of the abuse. She allegedly once remarked that her mother seemed to feel sorry for her because of her uncertain parentage, which may have contributed to this difference in treatment. In 1992, when police began investigating Fred West on charges of abuse, Tara was around 15 years old.
As part of child protection efforts, she was removed from the West household and placed in foster care. Authorities changed her name and prohibited contact with her siblings, likely in an effort to shield her from the media and further trauma. Tara has never appeared publicly in connection with the case, and very little is known about her current life. It is widely believed that she has since married and continues to live somewhere in the UK under a new identity.
Louise West Reported Fred West’s Criminal Activities in 1992
Louise West was also allegedly not Fred’s biological daughter and is believed to have been fathered by one of Rose’s clients. She was subjected to the same physically and sexually abusive environment that defined life inside 25 Cromwell Street. In 1992, when she was just 13 years old, Louise played a pivotal role in exposing the horrors within the West household. She confided in the parents of a friend and revealed the ongoing abuse she and her siblings endured. She told them how her father would threaten them by saying that if they didn’t behave, they would end up under the patio like Heather. As a result of her disclosure, social services intervened. Louise and the younger siblings were removed from the home, placed in foster care, and her name was legally changed to protect her identity. She did not testify against Rose and has maintained a very private life since then.
Barry West Passed Away From an Alleged Overdose
Barry West, born in 1980, was raised in the horrific environment of 25 Cromwell Street. It has been alleged that he witnessed the murder of his sister, Heather West. He claimed that he was restrained and forced to watch as Fred and Rose brutally beat Heather to death. He did not testify during Rose West’s 1995 trial. After being rescued in 1992, he was placed in foster care along with several of his younger siblings. However, the damage done during his early years was profound. He reportedly struggled with mental health challenges and battled substance dependency for most of his adult life. In August 2020, at the age of 40, he passed away from a suspected overdose. His death underscored the long-lasting and devastating impact of the abuse the West children endured, and how survival did not always equate to healing.
Rosemary “Junior” West and Lucyanna West Have Kept a Low Profile Over the Years
Both Rosemary and Lucyanna West were allegedly fathered by Rose West’s clients during her time engaging in sex work. Born in 1982 and 1983, respectively, the two girls were among the younger children in the West household. In 1992, during the police investigation into Fred West’s abuse charges, both girls were removed from the home and placed into foster care. Their names were changed, and they were prohibited from maintaining any contact with their older siblings. Very little is publicly known about them, and unlike some of their siblings, they have remained entirely out of the public eye. It is believed that they have continued their lives under new identities somewhere in the UK.
Read More: Janet Leach: What Happened to Fred West’s Appropriate Adult?
