Editing Anthony Russell

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{{Villain Infobox
|image = Anthony_Russell.jpg
|fullname = Anthony Russell
|origin = Coventry, U.K.
|occupation = Criminal
|hobby = Brutalizing and killing people<br>Taking drugs
|goals = Continue brutalizing people without getting caught (failed)
|crimes = [[Murder]]<br>[[Rape]]<br>Robbery<br>Assault<br>Drug possession
|type of villain = Sadistic Serial Killer}}
'''Anthony Russell''' ‎is a British spree killer, rapist and robber responsible for the 2020 murders of 32-year-old David Williams, 58-year-old Julie Williams and 31-year-old Nicole McGregor. He received a whole-life sentence in March 2022.

==Biography==
Russell, living in Coventry at the time, began his crime spree in October 2020 by attacking and robbing a man in his house.<ref name=Guardian>[https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/mar/11/triple-murderer-anthony-russell-sentence-whole-life-order Triple murderer Anthony Russell sentenced to whole-life order], ''The Guardian''</ref> Later, on 21 October, Russell targeted David Williams, who he wrongly suspected of sleeping with his girlfriend. He lured Williams into his house and beat him before strangling him to death with a lanyard.<ref name=Birmingham/> 

Four days later on 25 October, David Williams's mother Julie asked Russell to help her look for her son. Russell agreed to help her and joined in the search; however, later that day he attacked her, beat her five times over the head and strangled her. It is believed that she somehow discovered he had killed her son. Later that day police received a tip-off that Russell had bragged about killing a man who had sex with his girlfriend.<ref name=Mirror>[https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/breaking-killer-who-murdered-three-26442453.amp Killer who murdered three people and raped mum-to-be given whole life order], ''The Daily Mirror''</ref> Russell's house was soon searched by police, who found the body of David Williams under his bed.<ref name=Birmingham>[https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/triple-killer-rapist-anthony-russell-23360315.amp Triple killer and rapist Anthony Russell given three life sentences but refuses to appear in dock], ''Birmingham Mail''</ref>

Russell meanwhile had gone on the run, first travelling to Kenilworth on public transport and assaulting a 71-year-old woman, stealing £200 from her and dragging her along the ground.<ref name=Guardian/> He then once again used public transport to flee to Leamington Spa, where he met fellow drug user Nicole McGregor and her boyfriend Christopher White on 26 October. McGregor was five months pregnant at the time, a fact of which Russell was aware. Just three hours after meeting her, Russell lured McGregor into a nearby woodland, where he forced her to the ground, stuffed twigs, leaves and tree bark down her throat to stop her from crying out and raped and killed her. The following day he helped White to search for McGregor, asking him how much he looked forward to the baby being born. Afterwards he fled Leamington, beating a 78-year-old man with a brick and fleeing in his car, leaving the victim hospitalized with a brain bleed. The manhunt for Russell was ramped up after McGregor's body was found and CCTV footage showed he had been with her when she disappeared.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-60707696 Anthony Russell: Triple killer given whole-life prison sentence], ''BBC News''</ref>

Russell was apprehended on 30 October when police saw the stolen car by the side of the road and found Russell sleeping in the back seat. Upon being booked he reportedly said "I admit it. I killed them."<ref name=Mirror/> Russell was otherwise uncooperative and refused to say anything when interviewed by police. He was charged with the murders of both Williamses and McGregor, and with raping McGregor. Russell pleaded guilty to the murder charges but not the rape charge. He was brought to trial for McGregor's rape in March 2022 and was found guilty by a jury in under 90 minutes. On 11 March 2022 he was sentenced to life imprisonment without the option of parole.<ref>[https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/anthony-russell-murder-rape-coventry-23356520.amp Live: Coventry killer and rapist Anthony Russell given whole life sentence], ''Coventry Telegraph''</ref> Russell had refused to leave prison to attend the sentencing.

==References==
[[Category:List]]
[[Category:Male]]
[[Category:Modern Villains]]
[[Category:Living Villains]]
[[Category:Rapists]]
[[Category:Serial Killer]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Perverts]]
[[Category:Liars]]
[[Category:Cowards]]
[[Category:Thugs]]
[[Category:Imprisoned]]
[[Category:Addicts]]
[[Category:Brutes]]
[[Category:Thief]]
[[Category:Criminals]]
[[Category:Barbarians]]
[[Category:Destroyer of Innocence]]