A motiveless murder: What happened to Darryl Fitch?
Check-In To MurderWhat was meant to be an idyllic camping trip turned into a nightmare when 43-year-old Darryl Fitch was murdered by his best friend, 37-year-old William Cameron.
The shocking case is featured in a brand-new docuseries, Check-In To Murder, which examines the stark contrast between picturesque holiday settings and the devastating crimes that lurk beneath the surface.
Crime+Investigation takes a closer look at what happened that weekend, how investigators built a murder case without a motive, and what the courts concluded.
Best friends
Darryl Fitch and William Cameron were widely regarded as close friends, with Cameron himself describing them as 'like brothers'. They lived in Paisley, Renfrewshire, on the outskirts of Glasgow.
In July 2015, the men travelled to a quiet riverside beauty spot at Locher Water in Bridge of Weir for a camping trip. Surrounded by pretty woodland, it was the perfect setting for the friends to spend a sunny weekend fishing, sharing a few drinks and escaping the routine of everyday life.
However, the camping trip soon took a terrifying turn when two fishermen found Darryl floating face down in the shallow waters of Locher Water, prompting a murder investigation.
The investigation
Once the fishermen alerted the police, they turned their attention to the last person to see Darryl alive: William Cameron.
When they finally tracked him down, he was disoriented and suffering from hypothermia, dehydration and a broken leg. When questioned, he claimed a stranger had attacked the men before fleeing the scene, but there were glaring inconsistencies in his story.
The results of the toxicology and post-mortem reports were equally troubling. William had high levels of drugs and alcohol in his system, which would have altered his behaviour at the time. In any case, his memory of the night’s events was frustratingly vague.
As for Darryl, he had 26 separate injuries, including a black eye, a fractured eye socket, four wounds to the back of his head, five broken ribs and a fractured neck bone.
Despite maintaining his innocence, investigators couldn't find any evidence of a third-party attacker. William was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder.
The sentencing
During the investigation and trial, the authorities were never able to establish why William had murdered his best friend. He continued to maintain his innocence despite the evidence stacking up against him, claiming a mystery figure was the real perpetrator.
When describing Darryl, William told officers, ‘He was like a brother. He always looked out for me. We had a good relationship. He was a good guy.’
However, what investigators pieced together that night told a different story. The men had been under the influence of alcohol and drugs when an altercation broke out. For whatever reason, William had violently attacked Darryl, causing ‘injuries consistent with falling from a height’.
Just as damning, prosecutors argued that William had access to a whistle and his friend's mobile phone. If someone else had attacked the men, why didn’t he call for help?
Murder without motive
Despite no clear motive, the jury was ultimately convinced that William had killed his friend in cold blood. The judge agreed. In a statement, he said:
‘Why you did this no one knows, except you. You spun a web of deceit to try to hide your actions from law enforcement agencies and Mr Fitch's family and friends. However, the jury has seen through this web of deceit and the lies about a third person being responsible. It was you that murdered Darryl Fitch.’
Prosecutor Richard Goddard added: ‘It stretches credulity to suggest a mystery figure came out of the shadows and attacked Darryl Fitch.’
Due to the barbarity of the crime, William was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 17 years before becoming eligible for parole.
Discover the full story in Check-In To Murder
To learn more about the killing of Darryl Fitch, tune into Check-In To Murder, our brand-new true crime series that examines murders in places usually associated with relaxation and escape.
Each episode dives into a different case of trips turned deadly in some of the UK’s most populous holiday towns and cities. Plus, with hundreds of witness accounts and expert testimonies, you’ll gain a fascinating insight into the minds of the country’s most notorious killers.
Tune in to Check-In To Murder on Crime+Investigation to learn more about Darryl Fitch's case – and sign up to the Crime+Investigation newsletter for more on stories like this. Every week, you'll receive the latest articles, episodes and more from C+I delivered straight to your inbox.
