On 8 November 2023, 45-year-old Scott Paterson killed his 74-year-old landlady, Annette Smith, in her home in Fairfield Park, Stotfold, Bedfordshire – a crime that would shock locals and later become the focus of a 24 Hours in Police Custody two-part special titled 'The Butcher of Suburbia'.
Paterson, who had lived with Smith for more than a decade and acted as her carer after she suffered a stroke, suffocated her with a pillow while she slept.
In the days and weeks that followed, he dismembered her body using a kitchen knife and saw, hid parts of her remains in a storage unit in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, and disposed of other pieces in public bins around the region.
What made the case particularly chilling was the attempt to conceal the crime: Paterson hacked into Smith’s email and sent Christmas cards and messages to her friends and family, posing as her to delay suspicion she was missing.
Concerns from relatives eventually triggered a police investigation in April 2024, and evidence including lack of bank activity and CCTV contradicted Paterson’s initial claim that she’d simply gone away.
This is everything else we know about the case and where Scott Paterson is now.
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Who was Annette Smith and what happened to her?
Annette Smith was a 74-year-old landlady living in Fairfield Park, Stotfold, Bedfordshire. In November 2023, she was murdered by her tenant, Scott Paterson, who had lived with her for over a decade and had taken on caring responsibilities after she suffered a stroke.
Paterson suffocated Smith while she slept. In the weeks that followed, he dismembered her body and attempted to conceal the crime in a calculated effort to avoid detection.
Following her cruel murder, Smith's family released a touching statement: "We are totally heartbroken and devastated that Annette has been taken away from us in such a cruel and senseless way.
"She was a beautiful, caring, trusting and generous lady, who meant so much to so many people."
It is believed his large debt was a motivation for the killing, as Paterson later sold jewellery and other belongings from Smith's home for £5,000.
How did Scott Paterson try to cover up Annette Smith’s murder?
After killing Smith, Paterson went to significant lengths to hide what he had done.
He dismembered her body and stored parts of her remains in a rented storage unit in Letchworth. Other body parts were disposed of in public bins across the local area.
He also accessed Smith’s email account and sent messages to friends and family, posing as her. Christmas cards were sent in her name to delay concerns about her whereabouts but some recipients noticed a change in writing style that raised suspicions. For months, he maintained the false narrative that she was alive and had simply gone away.
The deception only unravelled when worried relatives reported her missing and inconsistencies began to surface during the police investigation.
How was Scott Paterson caught?
The investigation was led by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit after Smith was reported missing in April 2024.
Detectives uncovered financial irregularities and digital evidence that contradicted Paterson’s claims. CCTV footage and forensic analysis further undermined his version of events.
Following his arrest, Paterson eventually confessed to the killing and directed officers to the storage unit containing Smith’s remains.
Detective Chief Inspector Katie Dounias, who led the investigation, said: “While in a position of trust, Paterson cruelly took advantage of Annette’s vulnerabilities which culminated in him not only ending her life, but taking abhorrent and deceptive steps to conceal his crimes. This was compounded by his efforts to make a financial gain by selling Annette’s belongings.
“There is nothing that will ease the impact this will have had on those that knew Annette, but the hope is that today’s sentencing provides some solace to her family and friends and puts an end to what has no doubt been a horrific ordeal for her loved ones.”
Where is Scott Paterson now?
In November 2024, at Luton Crown Court, Scott Paterson pleaded guilty to murder.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years. That means he must serve at least two decades in custody before he can even be considered for parole.
The judge described the murder and subsequent cover-up as callous and sustained, highlighting the betrayal of trust involved.
