Man arrested over Murders of three Exeter Pensioners

Three Exeter pensioners were murdered this week and a 27-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the murders.

Alexander Lewis-Ranwell, a polo-playing former public schoolboy, was arrested on Tuesday and is being questioned over the murders of twins Dick and Roger Carter, 84, and Anthony Payne, 80.

Mr Payne, 80, was found dead on Monday afternoon, at about 3 pm. Less than 24 hours after, twins Dick and Roger Carter, 84, were found dead at their home a mile away.  The twins were found at 1 pm on Tuesday. All three slain elderly pensioners sustained serious head injuries, detectives confirmed.

Officers believe the killings in Exeter are linked due to similar ‘significant level of injuries’ and also due to the ‘level of violence’.

Mr Payne and twin victims Dick and Roger Carter, 84, were all reclusive bachelors.

According to reports, Lewis-Ranwell was ‘not talking’ to the police. A source said police had been granted extra 36 hours to question him.

One of Lewis-Ranwell’s neighbours and family friends said that he was a keen polo player who attended the £30,000-a-year West Buckland boarding school.

The source said:

He was one of the nicest children you could ever meet. He is so polite and kind and was good at school.

He was brilliant at polo. He wanted to play so his dad bought him horses.

It was also claimed he previously had a 64-year-old girlfriend, according to The Sun.

Lewis-Ranwell remains in custody at Heavitree police station in Exeter. He can be held for a total of 96 hours before he is released or charged.