Prosecutors: Man killed wife, pretended she was alive and downloaded Tinder

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David Barraclough, 46, admitted killing his wife with a hammer and hiding her body in a chest freezer. He has been sentenced to life in prison. (West Yorkshire Police)Comment on this story0CommentShare storySharetopics: David BarracloughMurderLife sentenceChest freezerTinderDomestic abuseCrown Prosecution ServiceNormantonNORMANTON, England (WKRC) – A man who admitted killing his wife with a hammer and hiding her body in a chest freezer has been sentenced to life in prison, prosecutors said.

David Barraclough, 46, must serve at least 22 years and one month, minus time already spent in custody, for the February killing of his wife, Carolann Barraclough, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

Prosecutors said Barraclough killed Carolann, a mother of three, sometime between Feb. 19 and Feb. 21 at their family home. He then tied her body and placed it in a chest freezer in the home’s utility room, according to the agency.

Authorities said Barraclough spent the following weeks telling Carolann’s relatives, friends and neighbors that she was hospitalized and recovering from an illness. He allegedly sent messages from her phone to make it appear she was still alive, kept her children away from the room where the freezer was located and later reset the phone.

Investigators said Barraclough downloaded the dating app Tinder two days after the killing. They also found video of him going to local pubs and bank records showing he withdrew substantial amounts of money from the couple’s joint account.

On March 5, Barraclough went to Normanton Police Station and told a receptionist, “I’ve killed my wife,” prosecutors said. Officers later found Carolann Barraclough’s body in the freezer.

Barraclough initially claimed his wife struck him with a hammer and that he acted in self-defense. Prosecutors said surveillance video from around the time of her death showed no visible injuries on him.

He pleaded guilty to murder on the first day of his trial.

“David Barraclough tried to paint himself as a victim of domestic abuse who had no choice but to kill his wife and was heartbroken by what had happened,” Senior Crown Prosecutor Jill May said. “The evidence told a very different story.”

May said Carolann’s eldest daughter provided important evidence in the case.