Gracie Spinks | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 19th October 1997 |
| Died | 18 June 2021 Derbyshire, England |
| Cause of death | Homicide |
| Occupation | Lifeguard |
| Known for | Victim of murder by a stalker |
Gracie Spinks was a lifeguard from Old Whittington who was murdered by a former colleague. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
Spinks was a swimming instructor and lifeguard but had been working as a warehouse operative at the time of her death. [1] [2] She was a keen horse rider and kept a horse at Blue Lodge Farm in Duckmanton. [2] [6]
In February 2021 she had reported a former colleague, Michael Sellers, to police for stalking. [6] He had been her supervisor at a warehouse where she once worked. [6]
Gracie was last seen alive by her mother at 7:30am on 18 June 2021, when she left home to tend to her horse. [1] She was found unconscious in the horse's field after 8am and a man was seen running away. [2] Initially it was thought she had been kicked by the horse, but paramedics realised she had been attacked and called police. [2] She was declared dead at 8:50am. [2]
Sellers was found dead in a field less than a mile away, at 11am the same day. [2]
Separate inquests were held into the two deaths. [2]
A post-mortem examination determined that Spinks died from a stab wound that severed an artery and her spine. [2] There was no evidence she was sexually assaulted. [2]
It is believed by police that Michael Sellers was responsible for her stab wounds, and that he killed himself afterwards. [6]
After the incident, Derbyshire police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct due to their previous contact with Gracie. [2] After an investigation disciplinary notices were served on five police officers. [6]
Two were served with notices over their handling of her allegations of stalking against Michael Sellers. [6] A sergeant and two constables were served with misconduct orders over the steps they took after discovering a bag of weapons which included a hammer, an axe and knives in May 2021 near the site where Gracie was eventually stabbed. [6]
Her family has campaigned for "Gracie's law", which would increase funding for investigating stalking cases. [6] Her parents said she was failed by police. [5]
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