A man is accused of murdering an artist and hiding her dismembered remains in a freezer alongside the bodies of her five guinea pigs for nearly three years, a court has heard. George Gordon, 65, admits killing Delia McInerney, 62, at his home in St Helens, Merseyside, in April 2023, days before she was due to move to Portugal.
Prosecutors allege Gordon, who also used the name Chris, hatched a premeditated plan to kill McInerney, purchasing items such as a sledgehammer and a surgical handbook in the weeks prior to her death. He is then said to have dismembered her body and placed the remains in a newly purchased chest freezer. The prosecution claims McInerney’s guinea pigs, which were also intended to go to Portugal, were killed by drowning and placed in the same freezer.
For approximately 18 months after McInerney's death, Gordon allegedly sent messages and emails impersonating her to deceive her friends and family. During this period, he is accused of withdrawing thousands of pounds from her bank accounts and fraudulently obtaining credit cards and loans in her name.
Police visited Gordon's flat in January 2026 after concerns were raised about McInerney's whereabouts. Upon arrival, Gordon reportedly told officers, "She's in the freezer." Human legs and feet wrapped in black plastic bags, a bodily organ, and the bodies of the five guinea pigs were discovered in the chest freezer.
Evidence suggests McInerney died on April 11, 2023, or early the next day. She had been scheduled to fly to Portugal on April 13. A video taken by Gordon on April 11 shows McInerney with her guinea pigs, which was the last footage of her alive.
In the months leading up to her death, Gordon allegedly made purchases of items described as consistent with those used to kill and dismember someone, including heavy-duty scissors, a cordless handsaw, drugs, a sledgehammer, and anatomy and 'how-to' books. He also reportedly searched online for "butcher's tools" and similar items.
Gordon initially claimed he found McInerney after an overdose and hit her head to end her suffering. He now claims he acted in self-defense after she attacked him when he went to call an ambulance.
After the alleged murder, Gordon traveled to Portugal on April 24 and took photos at a house McInerney had purchased there. He also allegedly sent messages from her phone, including one about receiving an invitation to King Charles's Coronation, and claimed they had received an invitation to the Eurovision Song Contest.
Concerns about McInerney's welfare were raised in December 2025 by benefits staff and council officials. Neighbors had also reported an "awful" smell coming from Gordon's flat. Gordon had previously been convicted of fraud, and an urgent safeguarding investigation was initiated.
Thousands of pounds were emptied from McInerney's account, and £22,000 in debt was accumulated on her credit cards. Gordon denies charges of murder and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. The trial is ongoing.