Man Imprisoned for Murdering Landlady and Concealing Her Body

Scott Paterson, 45, has been sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in prison for the murder of his landlady, Annette Smith, 74, and subsequently hiding her body in a storage locker. Paterson had resided with Ms. Smith at Fairfield Park, located near Stotfold, Bedfordshire. He admitted to murdering and dismembering Ms. Smith, then secreting her remains in a storage unit in Letchworth, Hertfordshire. Sentencing him to life imprisonment, Mr Justice Murray stated that Paterson had fabricated “an elaborate lie” to Ms. Smith’s friends and family in an attempt to cover up his crime. However, Paterson, who had stolen Ms. Smith’s jewellery and sold it online, claimed he also desired to be apprehended and hoped her body would be discovered. Luton Crown Court heard that he would tell himself in the mirror, “I killed someone.” Paterson had accumulated approximately £30,000 in debts and had sold Ms. Smith’s jewellery for over £5,000 both before and after her death. The court was informed that Ms. Smith and Paterson had become friends, and she had invited him to reside in her spare room rent-free in exchange for companionship and assistance with errands. They had also taken holidays together. Following a stroke, Ms. Smith’s mobility was impaired, and Paterson assumed the role of her carer, collecting medication and assisting with her personal hygiene. Jason Smith, Ms. Smith’s stepson, expressed that he “became concerned that having Scott Paterson there wasn’t a good thing for her” and that the residence was not being adequately maintained. Paterson was employed at a local farm shop and had completed a butchery course. Ms. Smith was last observed by friends in November 2023, and Paterson informed neighbours on Hardy Way that she had gone to stay with a friend. Police reported that he also utilized her email account to dispatch Christmas messages and Moonpig cards to family and friends, fabricating the impression that she remained alive. Nevertheless, certain messages “did not ring true” due to the presence of “multiple kisses at the end of the email.” Family members grew suspicious, and on 10 January, her ex-husband, Peter Smith, reported her disappearance. He “wasn’t satisfied with the police response” and subsequently hired a private investigator, who located Ms. Smith’s passport, mobile phone, and other possessions at her residence. Bedfordshire Police then initiated an investigation, leading to the discovery of her remains at the storage locker. Paterson informed investigators that he had suffocated her using a pillow and initially tried to conceal her body within the house. The court was apprised that on 14 November, an estate agent visited the property but failed to detect remains concealed in a cupboard beneath the stairs. The perpetrator placed her body into a suitcase and transported it to the storage unit. The judge addressed Paterson, stating: “You told her friends and family an elaborate lie. “Because of your lies, the police concluded there was not evidence at that time to say she was genuinely missing.”” Jason Smith commented that his stepmother “was very vulnerable due to her mobility issues.” He further stated, “I consider Annette as my mother and I loved her dearly.” “She was one of the kindest and most caring people; I can’t understand why anyone would want to harm her.” “I have to try very hard not to think about what he did to her. He seemed a nice friendly guy, but he was a murderer.” He concluded, “I’ll never forgive him.” A cousin of Ms. Smith remarked that she “brought so much joy into our family” and “we love and miss you so much.” She added, “Paterson took her away from us in such a cruel way. We are going through pain every single day – endlessly worrying about what she went through.”