Tiernan Darnton Wiki
Tiernan Darnton Biography
Who is Tiernan Darnton ?
A student has been convicted of murdering his 94-year-old grandmother by setting the curtain on fire with a lighter.
Tiernan Darnton, 21, killed Mary Gregory, her stepfather’s mother, when starting a fire at her bungalow in Heysham, Lancashire in May 2018. She was discovered under a table in the greenhouse and died four days later in the hospital.
The evidence shown to the jury included drawings found at Darnton’s home address, outlining the floor plan of the 94-year-old bungalow. They contained labels that included “good hideout” and “quick exit”, as well as references to the need for a “good alibi.”
A package of Tunnock tea cakes and a can of Coca-Cola, purchased by Darnton at a nearby gas station less than two hours before the fire, were also discovered at the scene.
How old is Tiernan Darnton ?
He is 21 year old.
Investigation
An investigation in 2018 previously ruled that Ms Gregory was the victim of an accidental fire after the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service concluded that the most likely cause was a cigarette that was accidentally dropped or discarded and ruled out the involvement of a third.
However, police reopened the case in May 2019 after Darnton said in a counseling session that he used a lighter to set fire to a curtain in the direction of Levens Drive.
During the investigation it emerged that the student had made a similar confession several weeks after Ms. Gregory’s death during a game of Truth or Dare with friends, in which she revealed her “darkest secret”.
He told them: ‘I have a secret that I have not told anyone. He may have killed someone.
Family
Police examination of Darnton’s phone and laptop found post-fire internet searches that included ‘I am a murderer’, ‘I am a monster and I’m going to hell’, ‘I want to cause evil’ and ‘Urge to kill again ‘. A month before the fire, when Darnton was 17, he too searched for ‘Murder of Under 18’.
When pressed, Darnton said that he started the fire because he did not want Ms. Gregory, formerly of Nuneaton, Warwickshire, to suffer any more from dementia, she heard Preston Crown Court.
The defendant closed his eyes briefly after the president of the jury delivered the unanimous verdict and her stepfather ran out of the courtroom as other family members burst into tears.
Murder
A student has been convicted of murdering his 94-year-old grandmother by setting the curtain on fire with a lighter.
Tiernan Darnton, 21, killed Mary Gregory, her stepfather’s mother, when starting a fire at her bungalow in Heysham, Lancashire in May 2018. She was discovered under a table in the greenhouse and died four days later in the hospital.
The evidence shown to the jury included drawings found at Darnton’s home address, outlining the floor plan of the 94-year-old bungalow. They contained labels that included “good hideout” and “quick exit”, as well as references to the need for a “good alibi.”
A package of Tunnock tea cakes and a can of Coca-Cola, purchased by Darnton at a nearby gas station less than two hours before the fire, were also discovered at the scene.
An investigation in 2018 previously ruled that Ms Gregory was the victim of an accidental fire after the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service concluded that the most likely cause was a cigarette that was accidentally dropped or discarded and ruled out the involvement of a third.
However, police reopened the case in May 2019 after Darnton said in a counseling session that he used a lighter to set fire to a curtain in the direction of Levens Drive.
During the investigation it emerged that the student had made a similar confession several weeks after Ms. Gregory’s death during a game of Truth or Dare with friends, in which her “darkest secret” appears.
He told them: ‘I have a secret that I have not told anyone. He may have killed someone.
Police examination of Darnton’s phone and laptop found Internet searches conducted after the fire that included ‘I am a murderer’, ‘I am a monster and I’m going to hell’, ‘I want to cause evil’ and ‘Urge again’ . A month before the fire, when Darnton was 17, he too searched for ‘Murder of Under 18’.
When pressed, Darnton said that he started the fire because he did not want Ms. Gregory, formerly of Nuneaton, Warwickshire, to suffer any more from dementia, she heard Preston Crown Court.
The defendant closed his eyes briefly after the president of the jury delivered the unanimous verdict and her stepfather ran out of the courtroom as other family members burst into tears.
Darnton killed Mrs Gregory by starting a blaze at her bungalow in Heysham, Lancashire
In giving evidence at his trial, Darnton said the case was “a gross misunderstanding” and that his confessions were false.
He said that he just wanted to impress his ‘nervous’ friends in the Truth or Dare game and felt that he had to say something credible, even though he knew he was ‘screwed up’.
Darnton said his comments to the counselor that he had killed someone “were seeking attention,” but he denied saying that he had set fire to his grandmother’s house.
He claimed that Google searches for him were related to his interest in murderers and true crime, and said that he did not even understand the true definition in the law of murder at the time.
An investigator with the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service ruled in August 2018 that the probable cause of the fire at Ms Gregory’s home was a cigarette and told the jury that his opinion had not changed.
When pressed, Darnton said he started the blaze because he did not want Mrs Gregory
However, a prosecution fire inspection expert said the chances of that happening were “extremely remote” and believed the fire was most likely due to the ignition of a naked flame near the bedroom window. main property.
The Crown said Ms Gregory also tried to block any escape, setting up a table in front of the greenhouse doors, unplugging a phone cord and dismantling a smoke alarm.
Mr. Gregory, in testifying for the defense, said that Darnton, whom he homeschooled, had been suffering from depression for several years and was “plagued with intrusive thoughts that were very, very disturbing.”
He told the jury that he himself would have taken Darnton to the police if he had believed that he had hurt his mother in any way.
Following the verdict, Lancashire Police Detective Chief Inspector Zoe Russo said: ‘Darnton regularly visited Mrs Gregory’s home after her son took him under her wing at a young age. Darnton spent time in Mrs. Gregory’s bungalow and not only took advantage of Mrs. Gregory’s kind nature, but also used her access to her home to meticulously plan her murderous act.
The sentence will take place on Friday.
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Tiernan Darnton Quick and Facts
- Student convicted of murdering grandmother by setting her curtain on fire
- Tiernan Darnton, 21, killed Mary Gregory, 94, by starting a blaze with a lighter
- Inquest ruled accidental fire three years ago but inquiry restarted in 2019
- Darnton had told friends at game of Truth or Dare he ‘may have killed someone’
- Evidence shown to the jury included drawings of floor plan of her bungalow
- Tunnock’s teacakes and Coca-Cola, bought by Darnton pre-fire, found at scene
- After the fire he made internet searches including ‘I’m a murderer’
Source: WikiSoon
