Funeral takes place of murdered Wycherleys

The bodies of William (86) and Patricia Wycherley (64) were exhumed from the rear garden of 2 Blenheim Close last October, 15 years after they were last seen alive.

Last month their daughter Susan Edwards (56) and her 57-year-old husband Christopher were found guilty of their murders.

The Edwards shot the couple and buried them over the May Bank Holiday of 1998, then embezzled more than £250,000 over the next 15 years while maintaining a fiction that the couple were still alive.

Around 12 family members and former neighbours attended the service at Mansfield Crematorium today (Friday 11th July), along with Chad and representatives from Nottinghamshire Police.

Speaking at the humanist service, celebrant Lol Owen described how the Wycherleys had returned to Mansfield from London in 1986 following the death of Mr Wycherley’s father.

He said: ““Bill was 74 and perhaps wanted to be on home ground in his final years. In later years they led a contented, self-sufficient life.

“They were good neighbours and spoke occasionally to those they met and for the most part entertained themselves.”

Following the macabre discovery last year, neighbours spoke of their shock, as many believed the elderly couple were still alive.

Family members were also left traumatised after the Edwards sent them regular letters and Christmas cards from the Wycherleys, to maintain the pretence that they were still alive.

Susan and Christopher Edwards were both sentenced to life imprisonment last month at Nottingham Crown Court, and told they must serve a minimum of 25 years in prison.