Convicted killer Andrew Griggs, 61, has been slapped with an extra three years behind bars for a twisted scheme to dig up his murdered pregnant wife’s body—more than 20 years after the crime.
Twisted Prison Plot to Fake Wife’s Survival
Griggs, already serving a life sentence for the shocking 1999 murder of his wife Debbie Griggs, tried to fool police and courts by plotting from his prison cell to exhume her remains. His goal? To fake a letter proving Debbie was still alive and clear his name.
The cold case reopened when it was revealed Debbie’s remains were buried beneath a garden shed at Griggs’ Dorset home, where he moved after the killing. For years, he claimed she’d simply walked out of their family home in Cross Road, Deal.
Family Member Snitches on Griggs’ Dark Scheme
In a shocking turn, Griggs confided his plan to a visiting relative, giving exact details on where Debbie’s body was hidden. He urged them to dig up her remains, snatch a strand of hair, and send it abroad to forge a letter from Debbie.
Thankfully, the relative tipped off police. An excavation uncovered a barrel-shaped container beneath concrete, holding Debbie’s remains, a pillowcase, clothing matching what she wore the day she vanished, a duvet from their bedroom, and a car boot liner linked to her missing Peugeot 309.
New Sentence at Canterbury Crown Court
On Monday 2 June 2025, at Canterbury Crown Court, Griggs admitted perverting the course of justice and got three more years added to his life sentence. Another charge of obstructing a coroner remains on file.
Detective Chief Inspector Neil Kimber blasted Griggs’ callousness: “He continued to lie, manipulate and scheme in the most disturbing way imaginable. He spared no thought for the emotional toll on others.”
The Horrific Truth and Ongoing Impact
- Griggs’ story about finding the body in someone else’s garden was trashed as highly unlikely.
- Forensics tied the car boot liner and blood to Debbie’s Peugeot 309.
- Clothes found matched what Griggs said she wore the day she disappeared.
- Duvet in the barrel matched family photos from their bedroom.
Debbie, a 34-year-old mother of three and pregnant with her fourth child, vanished in May 1999. The case went cold until Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate reignited the hunt. Griggs was convicted in 2019 after strong forensic and circumstantial evidence.
Police praised the brave relative whose tip helped bring justice and urged the public to stay alert to the devastation caused by domestic abuse and manipulation.
