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Carer Murdered, Body Hidden, Killer Used Her Card
21 May
Summary
- A man murdered his carer, hid her body, and used her credit card.
- The victim was found under a sofa in the killer's Birmingham home.
- The killer has been jailed for a minimum of 12 years.
A man has received a life sentence with a minimum of 12 years for the murder of his live-in carer. The 35-year-old, David Walsh, was found guilty of killing Irene Mbugua, who had been assisting with his mental health. He strangled and struck her with a brick, subsequently hiding her body under a sofa in his Birmingham home.
Police discovered Mbugua's remains two days after the attack on June 21, 2026. During this period, Walsh used her credit card for shopping, including purchases at a local store and JD Sports. He had stopped taking his prescribed medication for paranoid schizophrenia, ADHD, and autism.
Walsh pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. The Honourable Mr Justice Wall KC characterized the killing as brutal and motiveless. Mbugua, a mother of four, was last heard from via text message on the evening of June 21. CCTV captured screaming shortly after.
Officers responding to a welfare check found the house flooded and discovered Mbugua's body. Walsh exhibited aggressive behavior towards the officers, spitting and biting them before being subdued. He also admitted to four counts of assaulting an emergency worker.
