Death of Gareth Williams
Encyclopedia
Gareth Williams, an employee of GCHQ
seconded to the Secret Intelligence Service
(MI6), was found dead in suspicious circumstances at a Security Services safe house
flat in Pimlico
, London
, during August 2010. Williams' decomposing remains were discovered locked into a sports bag on 23 August 2010 at around 16:40 after the police forced an entry into his top floor flat in Alderney Street, Pimlico.
, North Wales
, Williams (born c.1979) began studying mathematics part-time at University of Wales, Bangor
, while still at Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern
school and graduated with a first-class degree at age 17. After gaining a PhD at University of Manchester
, he dropped out from a subsequent post-graduate course at St Catharine's College, Cambridge
, and took up employment with GCHQ in Cheltenham, renting a room for a decade in Prestbury
. Reportedly an intensely private man and a keen cyclist, Williams was due to return to Cheltenham at the beginning of September 2010 after his annual leave. Williams was buried in Holyhead on 26 September, in a private family service attended by the head of MI6, Sir John Sawers
.
in the bath of an en-suite bathroom of the main bedroom during the afternoon of Monday 23 August 2010, eight days after he had last been seen alive. Police visited Williams' home as a "welfare check" after colleagues noted he had been out of contact for several days.
After launching an investigation "a cause of death has not yet been determined", but as of 6 September authorities stated that the body showed no signs of stab or gunshot wounds and was free of alcohol and common recreational drugs. The Metropolitan Police
consider his death "suspicious and unexplained". The FBI have also conducted their own investigation into the case.
In December 2010, police released further details, stating that Williams had visited a number of bondage
websites. An expert brought in to examine the bag in which Williams body was found, concluded Williams could not have locked it. A police spokes person stated that: "If he was alive, he got into it voluntarily or, if not, he was unconscious and placed in the bag." Forensic experts calculated that the temperature inside the bag would have risen to 30°C within three minutes, and Williams would have suffocated within half-an-hour. Williams date of death was estimated to have been in the early hours of 16 August, one week before he was found. Consequently, the police released an efit photo
of the two people they were seeking, who were seen to enter the communal entrance of his home in June or July 2010.
Government Communications Headquarters
The Government Communications Headquarters is a British intelligence agency responsible for providing signals intelligence and information assurance to the UK government and armed forces...
seconded to the Secret Intelligence Service
Secret Intelligence Service
The Secret Intelligence Service is responsible for supplying the British Government with foreign intelligence. Alongside the internal Security Service , the Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence Intelligence , it operates under the formal direction of the Joint Intelligence...
(MI6), was found dead in suspicious circumstances at a Security Services safe house
Safe house
In the jargon of law enforcement and intelligence agencies, a safe house is a secure location, suitable for hiding witnesses, agents or other persons perceived as being in danger...
flat in Pimlico
Pimlico
Pimlico is a small area of central London in the City of Westminster. Like Belgravia, to which it was built as a southern extension, Pimlico is known for its grand garden squares and impressive Regency architecture....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, during August 2010. Williams' decomposing remains were discovered locked into a sports bag on 23 August 2010 at around 16:40 after the police forced an entry into his top floor flat in Alderney Street, Pimlico.
Background
Originally from AngleseyAnglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
, North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
, Williams (born c.1979) began studying mathematics part-time at University of Wales, Bangor
Bangor University
Bangor University is a university based in the city of Bangor in the county of Gwynedd in North Wales-United Kingdom.It was officially known for most of its history as the University College of North Wales...
, while still at Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern
Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern
Bodedern High School is a co-educational secondary school in Bodedern, Anglesey, Wales first opened in 1977. It is a bilingual school with pupils taught mostly in Welsh, but some through the medium of English. The current Headteacher is Annwen Morgan, appointed April 2007.-History:The school was...
school and graduated with a first-class degree at age 17. After gaining a PhD at University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
, he dropped out from a subsequent post-graduate course at St Catharine's College, Cambridge
St Catharine's College, Cambridge
St. Catharine’s College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1473, the college is often referred to informally by the nickname "Catz".-History:...
, and took up employment with GCHQ in Cheltenham, renting a room for a decade in Prestbury
Prestbury, Gloucestershire
Prestbury is a medium sized village near the edge of the Cotswolds. It is on the outskirts of the larger town, Cheltenham, and forms part of the borough of Cheltenham, despite retaining its own parish council as a civil parish. It is part of the Tewkesbury parliamentary constituency, represented...
. Reportedly an intensely private man and a keen cyclist, Williams was due to return to Cheltenham at the beginning of September 2010 after his annual leave. Williams was buried in Holyhead on 26 September, in a private family service attended by the head of MI6, Sir John Sawers
John Sawers
Sir Robert John Sawers, KCMG is a British diplomat and senior civil servant. He is the current Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service...
.
Investigation
Williams' body was found in a padlocked duffel bagDuffel bag
A duffel bag is a large cylindrical bag made of cloth with a drawstring closure at the top....
in the bath of an en-suite bathroom of the main bedroom during the afternoon of Monday 23 August 2010, eight days after he had last been seen alive. Police visited Williams' home as a "welfare check" after colleagues noted he had been out of contact for several days.
After launching an investigation "a cause of death has not yet been determined", but as of 6 September authorities stated that the body showed no signs of stab or gunshot wounds and was free of alcohol and common recreational drugs. The Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
consider his death "suspicious and unexplained". The FBI have also conducted their own investigation into the case.
In December 2010, police released further details, stating that Williams had visited a number of bondage
Bondage (sexual)
Bondage is the use of restraints for the sexual pleasure of the parties involved. It may be used in its own right, as in the case of rope bondage and breast bondage, or as part of sexual activity or BDSM activity.- Private bondage :...
websites. An expert brought in to examine the bag in which Williams body was found, concluded Williams could not have locked it. A police spokes person stated that: "If he was alive, he got into it voluntarily or, if not, he was unconscious and placed in the bag." Forensic experts calculated that the temperature inside the bag would have risen to 30°C within three minutes, and Williams would have suffocated within half-an-hour. Williams date of death was estimated to have been in the early hours of 16 August, one week before he was found. Consequently, the police released an efit photo
E-FIT
Electronic Facial Identification Technique is a computer-based method that produce facial composites of wanted criminals based on eyewitness descriptions. Janina Kaminska at the UK Home Office proposed the term in 1984...
of the two people they were seeking, who were seen to enter the communal entrance of his home in June or July 2010.
External links
- "Who was Gareth Williams?" November 2010.