Draft:Catherine “Rena” Costello

• Comment: Improper use of curly quotation marks in the name, and there is no need to include a nickname in the article title. Simply find out what the WP:COMMONNAME of the subject is and place the article under that title. Bobby Cohn (talk) 17:10, 15 September 2024 (UTC)

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Rena Bernadette Costello
Born	Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Died	c. 1971 England
Nationality	Scottish
Spouse	Fred West (m. 1962)
Children	Charmaine West, Anna Marie West

Catherine "Rena" Bernadette Costello was the first wife of Fred West, a British serial killer. Born in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland, she became intertwined with West's early life and was the mother of two of his children.

Early Life

Rena Costello hailed from Coatbridge, Lanarkshire. In 1960, she met Fred West at a dance hall in Much Marcle. They dated for several months before she returned to Scotland. In September 1962, they reconnected, and on 17 November 1962, they married in Ledbury, England, with Fred's younger brother John as the sole guest.

At the time of their marriage, Rena was pregnant by an Asian bus driver. To avoid familial disapproval due to the mixed-race pregnancy, she moved to England. The couple initially lived with Fred's aunt before relocating to Coatbridge, where Fred worked as an ice cream van driver.

Family Life

In February 1963, Rena gave birth to her daughter, Charmaine. To explain Charmaine's mixed ancestry, they claimed she was adopted after Rena suffered a miscarriage. In July 1964, their second daughter, Anna Marie, was born at their home on Savoy Street in Glasgow.

Friends and neighbors recalled Rena as a considerate mother struggling to raise two children under challenging circumstances. Fred, however, was known to treat the children harshly, often confining them and exhibiting violent behavior.

Association with Anne McFall

Through their nanny, Isa McNeill, the Wests met 16-year-old Anne McFall, who began spending considerable time at their home. McFall became infatuated with Fred and later moved with the family when they relocated.

Move to England

In December 1965, after Fred was involved in a fatal accident where he struck a child with his van, the family moved to Gloucester, England, settling in a caravan park in Bishop's Cleeve. Rena joined him in February 1966, accompanied by McNeill and McFall.

Marital Struggles

Fred's behavior grew increasingly controlling and violent. Rena began an affair with a man named John McLachlan. Upon discovering the affair, Fred reacted violently, leading to physical confrontations. Concerned for her safety and that of her children, Rena attempted to leave Fred multiple times.

Disappearance of Anne McFall

In July 1967, Anne McFall, then eight months pregnant with Fred's child, disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Her dismembered remains were discovered in 1994, but Fred West never admitted responsibility for her death.

Later Years and Disappearance

Rena continued to visit her children but eventually disappeared around 1971. It is believed that she was one of Fred West's early murder victims. Her remains were later found, but details surrounding her death remain unclear.

Legacy

Catherine "Rena" Costello's life was marked by hardship and tragedy. Her relationship with Fred West placed her at the center of one of Britain's most notorious criminal cases. Her story is a somber reminder of the unseen victims surrounding infamous figures.

See Also

• Fred West
• Rosemary West

References

This page will be placed in the following categories if it is moved to the article namespace.

Categories:

• 1940s births
• 1970s deaths
• People from Coatbridge
• People murdered in England
• Victims of serial killers