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10 Horrifying Things To Know About the Barking Murders

The Barking Murders were a series of killings that involved four gay men that occurred between 2014 and 2015 in the United Kingdom. Stephen Port who was born on 22^nd February 1975 was the perpetrator in the killings. His victims were gay men namely Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth, and Jack Taylor.

Stephen lured his victims who he met on gay and bisexual social networks and dating or hook-up apps. He used false background information to lure his victims who fell for his traps. The Barking Murders were carried out after Stephen drugged his victims, raped and killed them.

Stephen grew up in Dagenham, West London where he was a loner and always bullied by children at his school. This made him have some odd behaviors when he grew up as his neighbors reported that he could play with children’s toys. In his mid-twenties, Stephen came out and revealed that he was gay.

The Barking murder victims were young people aged between 21 and 25. Stephen was later arrested and given a life imprisonment sentence which he is currently serving. Here are the 10 Horrifying Things To Know About the Barking Murders:

1. The Victims of The Barking Murders Were Four Young Men

The Barking Murders were a series of four murders that took place in Barking, East London, England. Four young men were victims in these gruesome killings that happened between August 2014 and September 2015.

23-year-old Anthony Walgate was the first victim to be murdered. He was a fashion student at the time of his murder. 22-year-old Gabriel Kovari who had moved from Slovakia to London was the second victim. 21-year-old Daniel Whitworth who worked as a chef was the third victim. 25-year-old Jack Taylor, who worked as a forklift driver was the fourth victim.

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2. Stephen Port, a Loner Committed the Gruesome Murders

Before the fourth body was discovered, the authorities were never aware nor did they have leads to the Barking Murders. However, Stephen Port was linked to these murders and several other atrocities of rape and drugging.

Stephen Port grew up in Dagenham and was described as a loner who was bullied during his childhood. His teachers described him as a quiet child who was lonely most of the time.

During his adulthood, his neighbors revealed that he exhibited some peculiar and odd behaviors. He could play with children’s toys and do other weird things too.

3. The Victims were Met from Online Gay & Bisexual Social Networks

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Stephen Port has an easy way of getting his victims. He used to meet them via online gay and bisexual social networks. Some of these platforms were dating and hookup apps.

He used false information like being a graduate of Oxford University and also that he served in the Royal Navy. Stephen also pretended to be a special needs teacher to lure his victims.

4. Stephen Drugged, Raped, and Killed His Four Victims

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As investigations continued, more details about the four murders were revealed. It was reported that Stephen used gamma-hydroxybutyric acid which is also known as a date rape drug to spike his victim’s drinks.

After drugging them, he could rape them and then murder them. High levels of the drugs were found in each of the victims bodies during autopsy. It was also revealed that Stephen used other drugs like amyl nitrite, Viagra, mephedrone, and crystal meth on his victims.

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5. The First Victim Lured by an Offer of £800 for His Services

On 17^th June 2014, 23-year-old Anthony Walgate was contacted by Stephen Port. Anthony was a fashion student who also worked as an escort occasionally.

To entice him into accepting to meet up with him, Stephen Port offered £800 for the services that he could give. The two met at the Barking station and headed to Stephen’s flat. At the flat, Stephen drugged Anthony with GHB and thereafter raped him.

6. Stephen Made an Anonymous 911 Call after Giving Anthony a Fatal Overdose of the Drug

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In the early morning of 19^th June, Stephen drugged the body of Anthony out of his flat into the pavement. He then used his mobile phone to make an emergency call requesting for an ambulance.

Stephen claimed that he had spotted a young boy who had collapsed on the street. Emergency services arrived but Anthony was pronounced dead shortly before 8:00 AM.

7. The Bodies of the 2^nd & 3^rd Victims were Found in a Graveyard of a Church

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222-year-old Gabriel Kovari who had moved from Slovakia was the second victim of Stephen Port. Gabriel had lived with Stephen Port for some while before he moved out.

21-year-old Daniel Whitworth who was from Gravesend in Kent and worked as a chef was the third victim of Stephen. The two men had gone missing for some days before their bodies were found.

The two bodies were found in the graveyard of the church of St Margaret of Antioch in Barking. A certain woman who had been walking her dog in the location found the bodies but on separate occasions.

8. A Fake Suicide Note was Found Alongside Whitworth’s Body to Cover Up the Murder

The discovery of the two bodies of Gabriel Kovari and Daniel Whitworth in the graveyard was a shocking revelation. Initially, authorities never believed that the incident was a murder case with what was found on the scene to cover up.

A fake suicide note had been planted by Stephen Port on the body of Daniel Whitworth to cover the murder. The note was to suggest that Daniel was responsible for the murder of Gabriel as he became guilty and killed himself.

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9. Police were on the Spot for Not Taking Forensic Materials in the Murders

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Investigations into these murders were initially not taken seriously by the authorities assigned to the case. Detectives did not take any forensic materials from the scene to do any tests on them which raised questions.

Coroner Nadia Persaud came out with major concerns on why several evidence elements on Daniel were not investigated. The coroner questioned why the bed sheet Daniel’s body was wrapped in and the GHB bottle was not tested for fingerprints and DNA.

10. Metropolitan Police Initially Failed to Link the Murders to Port

 In just over a year, the bodies of the Barking Murder victims were found close to Stephen’s apartment. Anthony Walgate was discovered outside his front door, while the other three victims were discovered in or close to a neighboring cemetery.

However, the Metropolitan Police was unable to link the murders to Stephen when the bodies were found near his doorstep. The PinkNews website and the LGBT independent advisory committee were correct in assuming there was a serial killer on the loose. The police had informed them the killings were unrelated when the first three victims were first believed not to have died in strange circumstances.

Stephen Port was later arrested and presented before a court of law. He was found guilty of four counts of murder, raping, and assault, as well as counts of administering poison. Stephen Port was handed a life sentence with a whole life order and is incarcerated at HMP Belmarsh.