The Murder of Georgina Symonds
I apologize everyone it’s been a busy work week. This will be my last post until after Christmas. I leave for Wisconsin on the 22nd, and come back on the 29th. I hope to have a new post out on December 30th!
For this case, I watched an episode of Vengeance Killer Lovers. It’s season 1 episode 9, ‘Murderous Millionaire.’
A young woman is reported missing after not picking her young daughter up from school.
Warning, this case discusses suicide and addiction.
Background
Georgina Symonds grew up in Newport, Pembrokeshire in South Wales. She came from a good background, but her parents separated when she was very young. Georgina was described as bright, ambitious and bubbly.
Georgina became pregnant at an early age, and had a daughter with a man named Peter Dean. After the relationship ended, Georgina worked odd jobs to provide for her daughter. She eventually began working as an escort, and made a lot of money for her and her daughter.
Georgina Symonds
A New Life
In 2012, Georgina, who was 22 at the time, met a man named Peter Morgan, who was in his 50s. Peter was married at the time and had two daughters. Peter was also very wealthy, and was estimated to be with worth about $20 million.
In 2013, Peter’s wife found out that he had sent Georgina flowers on Valentine’s Day. Peter had also been visiting escort service websites, which is how he met Georgina. Peter became very obsessed with Georgina, and moved her and her daughter into his bungalow.
Peter was also helping to pay for things for her and her daughter. He lived in a large castle about 5 minutes from the bungalow. By 2016, Peter and Georgina had been together for 3 years.
Georgina and Peter Morgan
The 911 Call
On January 12, 2016, Georgina’s friend, Alexi, contacted the Welsh police. Alexi and Georgina had talked that day about a playdate for their daughters. But, Georgina never showed up to pick her daughter up from school.
When the police showed up at the bungalow, Alexi, Peter, and Georgina’s mom were all there. Peter told the police that Georgina wasn’t herself in the last few days. Georgina’s dad and ex-boyfriend, Peter Dean, had both died. Peter said that Georgina had turned to alcohol and drugs to cope with the pain.
Peter told the police that Georgina might’ve killed herself, and would’ve gone out to the woods behind to the bungalow to do it. However, the police didn’t find anything in the woods.
Georgina was considered as a high risk missing person due to her mental state.
The Ex-Boyfriend
The police tracked Georgina’s phone, and it led them to the farm owned by Peter’s estranged wife. She had been out of the country at the time.
The police looked into Georgina’s relationship with her ex-boyfriend Peter Dean. He had struggled with Georgina becoming an escort. It caused a lot of argument, and Georgina tried to hide the relationship she had with Peter Morgan from him.
By August 2015, Georgina told Peter Morgan that she had ended things with Peter Dean. Georgina saw Peter Dean a few more times before ending the relationship for good. He ended up committing suicide and she blamed herself. Georgina was in a very dark place, and turned to alcohol and cocaine.
Peter eventually told the police that he had Georgina’s phone. He had taken the phone to keep her from calling people to buy drugs. Peter led the police to the phone, which was in his front seat.
The police also learned from Georgina’s family and friends that Peter was obsessed with Georgina, and that she treated it like a business transaction. Alexi told the police that Georgina was going to end things with Peter, and was planning for the future.
The Confession
After the police found the phone, Peter was taken to the police station for further questioning. On January 13, Peter confessed to the police that he had strangled Georgina.
He said after he strangled her, he took her body to the farm. At 6am, the police found Georgina’s body behind some farming equipment. She had been wrapped up with rope tied around her, and had orange twine on her neck that had been used to strangle her.
Georgina’s purse, car and house keys, and high heeled boots were also found in a garbage bag. The police also found a listening device, which Peter had used to spy on her. When confronted about this, Peter claimed he used the device to check on Georgina’s well being.
Peter’s phone records were obtained. The listening device was accessed about 514 times over several months from 2015 to 2016. Peter had heard Georgina saying that she wanted him to sign the bungalow over to her, and that she was going to leave him.
Peter eventually admitted that he knew Georgina was using him, which is why he purchased the listening device. Peter also said he had heard Georgina talking about how she was going to blackmail him into signing the bungalow over to her. Georgina said she was going to tell his estranged wife and daughters about how he was using escort websites. Georgina also had videos of Peter that he had sent to her.
Premeditated or Accident?
On January 11, Peter had made a list on his phone of things he needed to purchase. The items listed were: poly, handle, snips, string, tape, gloves, plug and bag. All of these items were used to murder Georgina.
The police had also obtained surveillance footage from the farm of Peter pulling up in his car, pulling Georgina’s body out, and hiding it. The police believed Peter’s wife had set up the cameras after he moved out, and that he didn’t know about it.
On January 14, 2016, Peter was arrested and charged with murder.
Peter’s trial began on November 28, 2016. Peter pled not guilty. The prosecution described Peter as being obsessed with Georgina. They said he meticulously planned and carried out the murder.
Peter's defense argued diminished responsibility, and that he didn’t know what he was doing at the time due to him having a type of Aspergers. They had two medical experts testify, but the prosecution’s medical expert didn’t agree with them.
On December 21, 2016, Peter was found guilty of murder. He was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
In October 2017, Peter appealed his conviction and sentence. In March 2018, the appeals were denied.
Peter
FINAL THOUGHTS
I don’t agree with Georgina using Peter for his finances or blackmailing him, but she didn’t deserve to die. Georgina wanted a good life for her and her daughter, and Peter just so happened to come into her life. He seemed like a good man at first by letting them move in and helping her with her finances. It seemed like Georgina was truly in love with the other Peter, and wanted a life with him. Peter Morgan deserves to be in prison because he strangled someone he claimed to love after an argument.
Sources
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-38390909
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-43478686
