An urban explorer stumbled upon the remains of Ean Coutts in Fife’s Whitehill Industrial Estate, revealing a tragic murder case.
Glenrothes: An urban explorer made a shocking discovery in an abandoned warehouse. He found the remains of a murdered man named Ean Coutts.
This happened at the Whitehill Industrial Estate in Fife back in September 2020. The explorer, James Fenton, stumbled upon the remains by accident.
It turns out that Ean Coutts was killed by David Barnes a year earlier. Barnes had taken Ean’s body from his home in Kinglassie and dumped it at the industrial estate.
At first, no one could identify the remains. But a police facial reconstruction confirmed they belonged to Ean, a 60-year-old army veteran who had been missing.
James shared his experience with the BBC. He said his stomach dropped when he realized the remains were human. He described seeing bones and mummified skin.
He thought it was scary how long Ean had been there without anyone noticing. Thankfully, he was finally found and can now rest in peace.
The industrial estate had been abandoned for years and was filled with trash and broken furniture. It was a sad sight.
David Barnes was convicted of Ean’s murder in September 2019. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison for his crimes.
After the murder, Barnes used Ean’s bank card to steal money. He tried to cover up his actions by hiding the body and even setting it on fire.
Detective Inspector Scott Roxburgh called Barnes’s actions despicable. He thanked everyone who helped with the investigation.
This case has been featured in a BBC documentary titled “Murder Trial: Body in the Warehouse.” It’s a chilling reminder of the tragedy that unfolded.
