A 65‑year‑old man is accused of murdering his close friend, the artist Delia McInerney, just days before she was due to start a new life in Portugal. Prosecutors say George Gordon not only killed his “soulmate” in April 2023 but also stored her dismembered body in a chest freezer for nearly three years, together with the five guinea pigs she loved. While the remains lay hidden, Gordon allegedly continued to live off Ms McInerney’s finances, taking out credit cards and loans in her name and even posing as her to friends and neighbours. The case, which has shocked the St Helens community, is now unfolding at Liverpool Crown Court, where Gordon admits the killing but insists it was in self‑defence.
A friendship that turned dark
Delia McInerney and George Gordon had known each other for many years, and those who knew them described the bond as more than just friendship. A relative of Ms McInerney later referred to Gordon as her “soulmate”, a term that highlighted the depth of their connection. In the spring of 2023, Ms McInerney was making plans to leave the UK for Portugal, taking her beloved guinea pigs with her. The impending move seemed to promise a fresh chapter for the artist, who had also been concerned about the proximity of 5G phone masts to her Anfield home. However, court documents suggest that Gordon’s reaction to her departure was far from supportive.
The grim discovery and investigation
Police finally uncovered the truth when they entered Gordon’s flat in Gerards Court, St Helens, on 8 January 2026. Inside the chest freezer they found Ms McInerney’s dismembered body, a chilling scene that was compounded by the presence of five dead guinea pigs. Forensic experts later determined that the animals had been drowned, the same fate the prosecution says they shared with their owner. The discovery prompted a swift arrest, and as officers escorted Gordon from the property, he reportedly muttered, “She’s in there”, followed by “She’s in the freezer”. The chilling confession was captured on camera and is now a key piece of evidence for the prosecution.
The deception that followed
Once Ms McInerney’s death became known, Gordon allegedly assumed her identity to conceal the crime. He sent messages to her friends, claiming she had fallen ill or that she had travelled to the King’s coronation in May 2023, where they had supposedly met Dame Joanna Lumley and Sir Stephen Fry. Meanwhile, he accessed her bank accounts, withdrawing more than £2,000 on 12 April 2023 and later securing loans and credit cards in her name. The fraud continued until a request for a personal independence payment (PIP) transfer was made in December 2025 by someone using the name Chris Cavendish‑Gordon, who claimed to be a social worker. This tip‑off set off a chain of inquiries that ultimately led to Gordon’s arrest.
Courtroom drama and claims of self‑defence
At the start of the trial, Gordon entered a plea that he had killed Ms McInerney, but only after she had taken an overdose and he had struck her with a hammer to “end her suffering”. He now maintains that the killing was an act of self‑defence. Prosecutors have presented evidence that Gordon purchased a sledgehammer and a handsaw shortly before the murder, items they say were necessary for the act of dismemberment. They also note that he collected prescriptions for medications that were later found in Ms McInerney’s system. The jury has heard that Gordon travelled to Portugal after the killing, visiting the property Ms McInerney owned there, further cementing the alleged pattern of deception. The trial is still ongoing, with both sides expected to call numerous witnesses and experts.
Why it Matters
This case raises profound questions about how society protects vulnerable individuals, especially those who rely on close personal relationships for support. The alleged betrayal of trust—murdering a friend described as a soulmate, then living under her name for years—strikes at the heart of community safety and personal security. It also highlights the need for stronger safeguards against financial exploitation of the deceased, as well as the importance of monitoring animal welfare in domestic settings. The outcome will likely influence how law‑enforcement agencies handle similar cases of long‑term concealment and fraud, and it serves as a stark reminder of the dark extremes to which greed and deception can lead.
