Body of Children's Author Found Buried in Garden

Helen Bailey's partner has been charged with her murder
By Michael Harthorne,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 16, 2016 2:00 PM CDT
Body of Children's Author Found Buried in Garden
Helen Bailey   (HelenBaileyBooks.com)

British authorities say a children's author who disappeared in April was murdered by her partner. The remains of Helen Bailey, known for her Electra Brown series of children's novels, were found buried in her garden on Friday, the Independent reports. According to the BBC, the 51-year-old Bailey was last seen walking her dachshund in her neighborhood on April 11. The dog's remains were also found on the property. A post-mortem examination is scheduled for Monday. "Helen was immensely witty and talented," her family says in a statement. "We love her deeply and are immensely proud of her achievements. She is now at peace and we shall all miss her terribly.”

Bailey's partner, Ian Stewart, has been charged with her murder, as well as perverting the course of justice and preventing lawful burial. He was first arrested last Monday, the Mirror reports. Stewart, who police say reported Bailey missing, had said he was "shattered" at the time. Authorities were continuing to search their home—a 7-bedroom place in Royston worth $1.7 million—on Saturday. Bailey's husband of 22 years drowned while on vacation in 2011, leading her to write a blog called Planet Grief in addition to her work on children's books. Her bio there noted that "since 2013 [she] has lived in Royston, Hertfordshire, with her partner (AKA Gorgeous Grey Haired Widower)," a reference to Stewart. (Fifty years later, police still receive hundreds of calls regarding this missing persons case.)

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