The Girl Who Caught A Killer: how one girl unmasked a serial killer

Even for seasoned true crime fans, some documentaries stick with you. Especially how perpetrators sometimes remain unpunished for years, only to be caught in the most unexpected way. Such is the case in the story of Rachael Watts, who at the age of seven manages to unmask a serial killer. In the documentary ‘The Girl Who Caught A Killer’, she shares for the first time what really happened to her, and how her life was never the same again.

Rachel Watts: the girl who unmasked a killer

It is February 4, 1990, when seven-year-old Rachael Watts roller skates through her neighborhood. She hasn't lived here long, and the route from the local store to her home is still a bit tricky. On her way, she encounters 23-year-old Russell Bishop, who is working on his car. Then it happens quickly. Bishop abducts the girl and hides her in his trunk. A short distance away in a park, he abuses and strangles Rachael, leaving her behind.

What no one, especially Bishop, expected happens: Rachael survives the attack. She manages to escape and get help. The police launch an investigation in hopes of catching the perpetrator. Rachael fully cooperates, and it is her statements that make the difference. Bishop is caught and convicted of attempted murder, abduction, and assault. And once in prison, many more gruesome details about him come to light.

How the perpetrator was linked to more cases and finally convicted

Bishop is no stranger to the police. Four years before his conviction, he was already arrested as a suspect in the murders of Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway, the notorious ‘Babes in the Wood’ murders. He quickly comes onto the police radar, but due to major mistakes in the investigation and the constantly changing statements of his girlfriend, he is acquitted. When Bishop is imprisoned for the Rachael case, new DNA evidence is found in the earlier murder cases. New investigations follow, the acquittal is overturned, and the serial killer is finally convicted. His sentence is extended: Bishop receives life imprisonment and will only have a chance for release after 36 years. This moment never comes; in 2022, he dies at the age of 55.

Why Rachel shares her story now in the docu

In the years following the conviction, Rachel never speaks about the case again, especially not in public; she chooses to remain as anonymous as possible. And there are several reasons for that. One important reason: she carries a great secret with her. Her family thinks Rachel was unconscious during the abuse by Bishop, but that was not the case. She remembers everything, and she wants to spare her family that pain.

There is another reason. Although Bishop was imprisoned, there was always the fear that he might one day be released. The idea that he could find her again was a nightmare for Rachel. The closer that possibility came, the more afraid she became. She no longer dared to go outside and fell into a deep depression. Only after his death could she let go of that fear a bit and felt it was time to share her story. No longer as the seven-year-old victim, but as the woman she is now; with the hope of finally giving a place to the emotions she has built up and getting her life back.

Rachel is not the only one telling her story. Family members and detectives also speak out. With their statements and never-before-seen footage, you get a glimpse into how one girl managed to unmask a serial killer. It sounds unbelievable, but the documentary makes it even more impressive. ‘The Girl Who Caught A Killer’ is now available on Videoland.

Image: ITV Studios