Wife left in wood is feared dead
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The body of Jacqueline Phillips may still be concealed in a remote Lincolnshire forest, five days after a volatile relationship became deadly, writes Jonathan Foster.
More than 200 police and soldiers have searched fruitlessly for two days in 10 square miles of dense woodland. When they resume today, they will have little hope of finding 26-year-old Mrs Phillips alive. All they have to go on is the clue left posthumously by her husband before a hosepipe was attached to his car's exhaust pipe.
John Phillips wrote a note before the fumes overcame him. He said he had harmed his wife, possibly killed her, and then left her by a road in woods near Market Rasen. He did not know whether she was dead or alive. That was on Tuesday morning, when a forestry worker found Mr Phillips dead in the family Cavalier, in woods near Peterborough.
The couple married four years ago. Mr Phillips was 15 years older than his wife, who had a son, Jonathan, now seven, from another relationship. John Phillips brought the boy up as his own son, neighbours in Stainforth, South Yorkshire, said yesterday. They said Mrs Phillips had a "bubbly" personality, but the marriage became strained after she got a job managing a fast-food restaurant in Doncaster.
Mrs Phillips moved out with Jonathan, renting a house near her parents and, when divorce papers arrived from the solicitor, her husband cracked.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments