Man charged with murder after pregnant woman found dead in burning Prestatyn van

A man has been charged with murder after a woman was found dead inside a burning van in Prestatyn, North Wales. Samantha Natalie Phythian, a 35-year-old resident of Rhyl, was expecting a baby when she died, according to BBC News Wales, which relays confirmation from police. The suspect has not entered a plea and is due back before a judge late in November.

A fire on Gas Works Lane

Ms Phythian, whom her family call Sammi, was found in a vehicle on Gas Works Lane on Sunday, October 4, in the evening. The BBC reports that the emergency services were alerted at 23:30 BST to a vehicle on fire, next to an industrial estate and a retail park, in central Prestatyn. Nation.Cymru adds that officers launched a murder inquiry after a call about a blaze at roughly 11.30pm.

A post-mortem examination later established that she was expecting a baby when she died, North Wales Police said. A force spokesperson told the Daily Post that her relatives had been informed and were still being helped by specialist officers.

What was said at Mold Crown Court

On Friday, October 9, Thomas Bell, 38, of Wellington Road in Rhyl, appeared at the crown court in Mold and was remanded in custody. He joined the hearing remotely by video and said nothing beyond confirming who he was, the BBC reports. The Daily Post says he was formally charged with murder on the Wednesday. Nation.Cymru gives his age as 35, while the BBC, the Daily Post and WalesOnline all say 38.

The court heard that Ms Phythian was known to the defendant and that he denies having set fire to the vehicle. Judge Geraint Walters said: “At the time of ignition the person was alive. Someone set the van alight and the person was alive and was killed as a result of the fire.” WalesOnline words the same point more cautiously, noting that the judge said it was understood she was alive when the blaze began.

Mr Bell is charged but has not been convicted of anything. The reports do not describe a motive or explain how the fire started, and nobody should treat the allegation as proven.

Dates for the next hearings

When adjourning the case, the judge said the defendant would return before him in Caernarfon, at the Crown Court there, late in November for a plea and trial preparation hearing, according to the BBC. A trial is pencilled in for early April 2027. The Daily Post reports that a formal plea to the charge is due on Friday, November 27, which would fall within that window, although the BBC does not give an exact day.

The family’s tribute and a plea for restraint

Ms Phythian’s relatives described her as a “much-loved mum, daughter, sister, auntie and friend”. In their statement they added: “Samantha, who everyone knows as Sammi, will be remembered for the special place she held in the hearts of everyone who knew and loved her.” They said that her death had left family and friends “devastated”, and asked people to be “mindful and respectful of rumours circulating over social media platforms at this devastating time”.

A police spokesperson said that the family had asked for privacy to be respected. Detective Chief Inspector Zoie Dunkerley, the senior investigating officer, said: “My thoughts are with Sammi’s family and friends. I would also urge the community to be careful of commenting anything which would add to the family’s distress or interfere with the ongoing active legal proceedings.”

Featured image. Source: Wikimedia Commons, Central_Beach,_Prestatyn_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1840395.jpg. Credit: Stephen McKay. License: CC BY-SA 2.0.