Serial killer-obsessed woman who murdered boyfriend gets life sentence
Shaye Groves attacked father-of-two Frankie Fitzgerald
Last updated 22nd Feb 2023
A serial killer-obsessed woman who murdered her on-off boyfriend at her home in Hampshire has been jailed for life, with a minimum term of 23 years.
Shaye Groves, 27, slit the throat of Frankie Fitzgerald, 25, before stabbing him 17 times in the chest last July after trying to portray herself as his victim.
Groves had framed pictures of serial killers on the walls of her home in Botley Drive in Leigh Park.
Winchester Crown Court was told she collected books about gangsters, including the notorious prisoner Charles Bronson and watched true crime documentaries.
In his sentencing remarks, Mr Justice Kerr told Groves: "You have robbed Frankie's family and loved ones of their son and their brother, and his two children of their father."
He added that Groves had ended Mr Fitzgerald's life in his mid-20s, and that she had "blighted" the lives of his family "for decades to come".
However, he described the murder as a "crime of passion", adding that Groves was not "a cold-blooded murderer".
"This was a crime of passion," he said.
"You loved the man you killed, and you killed the man you loved.
"You are not a cold-blooded murderer, a crime of passion is not committed in cold blood."
During the trial it was said that Groves stabbed Mr Fitzgerald after discovering that he had been messaging a 13-year-old girl on Facebook.
Steven Perian KC, prosecuting, told the jury: "It is very likely she was obsessed with Frankie Fitzgerald because of his performance in the bedroom.
"The killing of Frankie Fitzgerald is very likely to be a crime of passion driven by her jealousy."
Mr Perian added: "Where would the defendant have got the insight from to plan the details of the attack and to make it look like she was the victim of an assault?
"The defendant has many gangster books like Charles Bronson in her bookcase.
"She has serial killer pictures all in frames on her wall and she watches murder documentaries.
"The Crown say that the defendant – by reading about and watching murder documentaries – she was familiar with crime scenes, how to create a false narrative and how to set up a false alibi.
"She deliberately set up a false narrative of being abused by Frankie Fitzgerald, a false alibi she sent to her friend Vicky Baitup and was cleaning the crime scene having watched these documentaries.”
Following the guilty verdict, Frankie Fitzgerald’s family made the following statement:
"As a parent you never expect to outlive your children, you will do anything in your power to protect them. Frankie was our baby, the youngest of five children he can never be replaced.
"He was a kind and beautiful person and sadly leaves two children behind that will never get to know their daddy.
"We thank the jury for their verdict today. To our Frankie, we love and miss you more than anything in this world. Your shining light will always be our hearts".
Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Burton, Senior Investigating Officer in the case, said:
"This was a shocking and sustained attack which tragically resulted in Frankie’s death.
"We are pleased with today’s sentence and that Groves will now spend a considerable length of time in prison for what she has done.
"As always, our thoughts first and foremost remain with Frankie’s family, friends and loved ones. I would like to praise their courage and hope that this sentence helps them to begin to move forward, despite knowing that nothing can fill the void left in their family by the loss of Frankie.
"We will do everything we can to investigate and bring to justice those responsible for such horrific crimes, the details disclosed in court were distressing for all to hear. I’m pleased that the jury has reached this verdict and that Groves has been brought to justice following tireless work from our local policing teams, detectives, specialist teams and the Crown Prosecution service.
"I would encourage any victim of domestic abuse to find the courage to come forward and tell us about it."