How Sarah Wellgreen's killer was caught without her body
Killer Britain with Dermot MurnaghanWhat happened to Sarah Wellgreen? The mother of five disappeared without a trace in October 2018. Despite extensive searches, the then-46-year-old’s body has never been found.
However, after a thorough investigation, her former partner, Ben Lacomba, was convicted of her murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Join us at Crime+Investigation as we delve into the murder of Sarah Wellgreen, Ben Lacomba’s sentencing and how the search for her body continues today. The case is also featured on the latest series of Killer Britain with Dermot Murnaghan, which is available now on Crime+Investigation.
Who was Sarah Wellgreen?
Sarah Wellgreen was a much-loved mother, daughter and friend whose disappearance had a profound impact on all who knew her.
Originally from Kent, Sarah was a devoted mum to five children. Friends and family described her as 'kind, caring and incredibly family oriented.'
The Kent-based beautician worked hard to provide for her children, juggling jobs in beauty therapy while also pursuing opportunities to improve her life and theirs. At the time of her disappearance, she was excited about starting a new job as a beauty therapist, which came with a significant pay rise and a company car.
This new role was seen as a fresh start — a chance to become more financially independent and to buy out Lacomba’s share of their shared house. But sadly, neither were to happen.
An unhappy home
Sarah had been living in New Ash Green, Kent, sharing the family home with her ex-partner Ben Lacomba — the father of three of her children. However, the romantic relationship between them had ended some years earlier.
Their living arrangement had continued out of practicality. But tensions had risen over time, especially as Sarah made plans to buy him out of the property.
Taking complete ownership of the home and asking Lacomba to leave is believed to have been a key factor in the motive for the devastation was to come.
Investigators later pointed to this decision as a trigger for the suspect, who may have feared losing control over both the home and his relationship with the children.
A loving mother vanishes
On the fateful evening of 9th October 2018, Sarah had spent the evening at home with two of her children and appeared to be in a normal, relaxed state of mind.
She texted her eldest son earlier in the day and spoke with a friend on the phone about her new job and her plans. There was nothing to suggest she felt in danger or had any intention of leaving. Sadly, things would take a sinister turn.
Sarah didn’t show up for work the next morning and couldn’t be reached by phone — something entirely out of character for her.
Her car was still parked outside the house, and her phone and bank accounts had no further activity. Alarmed by her silence, her family reported her missing.
Where had Sarah gone?
An inconsistent story
During an interview with police, Ben Lacomba told them that he’d gone to bed early and hadn't seen Sarah leave. However, as detectives began piecing together the events, inconsistencies in his story began to emerge.
CCTV from nearby properties, which should have shown movement from the home, mysteriously had gaps. Investigators later discovered that Lacomba had deliberately disabled or repositioned the cameras to avoid capturing any incriminating footage.
Kent Police said: 'Lacomba would 'almost certainly' have moved the body in his red Vauxhall Zafira taxi.'
A conviction without a body
Despite the absence of Sarah Wellgreen’s body, detectives from Kent Police were able to build a compelling, circumstantial case against Ben Lacomba. One that led to his conviction in October 2019.
The investigation was meticulous. Although it lacked a vital piece of evidence in Sarah’s body, it uncovered a disturbing pattern of planning, deception and concealment that pointed to Lacomba’s guilt.
On 28th October 2019, the jury found Ben Lacomba guilty of Sarah Wellgreen’s murder. The judge sentenced him to life in prison with a minimum term of 27 years, noting the 'cold and calculated' nature of the crime.
Sarah Wellgreen’s family told reporters: 'We will not allow Ben Lacomba to destroy our lives.'
Seven years on from her murder, the search for Sarah continues to this day. The family still remains hopeful that one day they will get the closure they deserve.
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