Three Men Murdered in Exeter: The Alexander Lewis-Ranwell Case | Ep. 281

Anthony George Payne is the first person I'd like to introduce to you in this episode.

He was 80 years old in February 2019, that's when our main timeline occurred, and he'd spent almost his entire life in the Devon city of Exeter, way down in southwest England.

Exeter is a historic city, with roots stretching back beyond the arrival of the Romans in AD 50.

Known for its magnificent cathedral, ancient city walls and picturesque quayside, it's also a lively cultural centre surrounded by beautiful Devon countryside.

Most people who knew Anthony called him Tony, and from what his family and friends later said about him, he was a man who was perfectly happy keeping himself to himself.

He enjoyed his independence, liked having a familiar routine, and wasn't somebody who went looking for attention or drama.

He'd built a life around the things that mattered to him, and he was quite content with that.

Anthony came from a large family.

He was one of eight siblings, and they'd each experienced time in the care system during what their relatives described as a difficult start in life.

Despite those early hardships, the siblings made an effort to stay in touch as they grew older, and Anthony was particularly close to one of his sisters.

They'd been through a lot as a family, and those relationships remained important to him throughout his life.

After leaving school, Anthony found work on a farm before completing his national service in the British Army.

For context, conscription was compulsory for eligible young men in Britain from 1939 to 1960.

When he returned to civilian life, he went into building work and continued to make his home in Exeter.

A long-time friend of his later recalled some of Anthony's working life, but it was the simpler things that really seemed to define him.

He supported Exeter City Football Club, aka the Greshams, enjoyed reading the newspaper and having a go at the crosswords, and spent time tending to his allotment.

He was also regular at some pubs around the city, where he could enjoy a familiar face and a bit of conversation.

And then there were his cats, which were a vital part of Anthony's life.

By early 2019, he had three of them, and the people who knew him spoke about how much he cared for his animals.

One friend remembered a cat called Boxer, who was especially precious to him.

Anthony might have preferred a quiet life, but he clearly had a great deal of affection to give, and his cats were a big part of the home he'd made for himself.

That home was a terraced property at No. 65 Bonhay Road in Exeter's St. David's area.

By the beginning of 2019 though, Anthony had been staying with his friend Keith, but he hadn't just abandoned his own place and continued returning to Bonhay Road to feed his cats and make sure they were being looked after, which tells you something about the love he had for them.

He was simply an older man trying to work out his living arrangements while maintaining his independence and continuing to care for the animals he was so fond of.

Nothing in the subsequent investigation suggested that Antony was involved in serious criminal activity or posed a threat to anybody.

Anthony George Payne is the first person I'd like to introduce to you in this episode.

He was 80 years old in February 2019, that's when our main timeline occurred, and he'd spent almost his entire life in the Devon city of Exeter, way down in southwest England.

Exeter is a historic city, with roots stretching back beyond the arrival of the Romans in AD 50.

Known for its magnificent cathedral, ancient city walls and picturesque quayside, it's also a lively cultural centre surrounded by beautiful Devon countryside.

Most people who knew Anthony called him Tony, and from what his family and friends later said about him, he was a man who was perfectly happy keeping himself to himself.

He enjoyed his independence, liked having a familiar routine, and wasn't somebody who went looking for attention or drama.

He'd built a life around the things that mattered to him, and he was quite content with that.

Anthony came from a large family.

He was one of eight siblings, and they'd each experienced time in the care system during what their relatives described as a difficult start in life.

Despite those early hardships, the siblings made an effort to stay in touch as they grew older, and Anthony was particularly close to one of his sisters.

They'd been through a lot as a family, and those relationships remained important to him throughout his life.

After leaving school, Anthony found work on a farm before completing his national service in the British Army.

For context, conscription was compulsory for eligible young men in Britain from 1939 to 1960.

When he returned to civilian life, he went into building work and continued to make his home in Exeter.

A long-time friend of his later recalled some of Anthony's working life, but it was the simpler things that really seemed to define him.

He supported Exeter City Football Club, aka the Greshams, enjoyed reading the newspaper and having a go at the crosswords, and spent time tending to his allotment.

He was also regular at some pubs around the city, where he could enjoy a familiar face and a bit of conversation.

And then there were his cats, which were a vital part of Anthony's life.

By early 2019, he had three of them, and the people who knew him spoke about how much he cared for his animals.

One friend remembered a cat called Boxer, who was especially precious to him.

Anthony might have preferred a quiet life, but he clearly had a great deal of affection to give, and his cats were a big part of the home he'd made for himself.

That home was a terraced property at No. 65 Bonhay Road in Exeter's St. David's area.

By the beginning of 2019 though, Anthony had been staying with his friend Keith, but he hadn't just abandoned his own place and continued returning to Bonhay Road to feed his cats and make sure they were being looked after, which tells you something about the love he had for them.

He was simply an older man trying to work out his living arrangements while maintaining his independence and continuing to care for the animals he was so fond of.

Nothing in the subsequent investigation suggested that Antony was involved in serious criminal activity or posed a threat to anybody.