Husband Hid Murdered Wife in Freezer, Pretended She Was Still Alive Through Texts — Then Downloaded Tinder

A British man who murdered his wife, concealed her body inside a freezer at their family home, and sent messages pretending to be her has been sentenced to life in prison. The disturbing case came to light after weeks of deception, during which he allegedly convinced relatives and friends that his wife was still alive and recovering in a hospital.

David Barraclough, 46, killed his wife, Carolann Barraclough, 37, sometime between February 19 and 21, 2026, according to prosecutors. He used a hammer in the attack, then tied up her body and placed it inside a chest freezer in the utility room of their home in Horbury, West Yorkshire, England. Carolann was a mother of three, and her children were among those left searching for answers as their father maintained the story that she was receiving medical care.

In the weeks that followed, Barraclough reportedly told Carolann’s family, friends and neighbors that she was in the hospital with an illness. He claimed that he was the only person permitted to visit her and sent text messages from her phone, impersonating his wife and assuring loved ones that she would soon return home. Prosecutors said he also kept the children away from the room where the freezer was located and later reset Carolann’s phone to factory settings in an apparent effort to conceal evidence.

Perhaps one of the most unsettling details emerged from the investigation into his behavior after the killing. Prosecutors said Barraclough downloaded the dating app Tinder just two days after his wife’s death. CCTV footage also showed him visiting local pubs, while financial records revealed that he withdrew substantial amounts of money from the couple’s joint bank account. These actions stood in stark contrast to the image of a grieving husband he later attempted to present.

The deception ended on March 5, when Barraclough walked into Normanton Police Station and told a receptionist, “I’ve killed my wife.” Officers subsequently searched the family home and discovered Carolann’s body inside the freezer. Barraclough initially claimed that his wife had attacked him with a hammer and that he had acted in self-defense. However, prosecutors said CCTV footage showed no visible injuries to his face or body around the time of her death.

Barraclough pleaded guilty to murder on the first day of his trial. On October 9, 2026, he was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 22 years and one month before he can be considered for release. Senior Crown Prosecutor Jill May said the evidence contradicted his attempt to portray himself as a victim, describing how he had hidden Carolann’s body and repeatedly lied to the people closest to her.

Prosecutors also praised Carolann’s eldest daughter for providing crucial evidence that helped build the case. Authorities expressed hope that the sentence would bring the family some measure of justice, although no prison term can undo the loss of a mother. What began as a family’s effort to understand why Carolann had suddenly disappeared ultimately exposed a calculated attempt to hide her death while carrying on with everyday life.

Source: PEOPLE