American woman stabbed to death at Essex home days before she was meant to return to US

An American woman was stabbed to death at home in Essex just days before she was due to return to the US.

Mary Wells, 21, was pronounced dead at a property on Laing Road, Colchester, on Sunday morning, January 17.

She had suffered stab wounds to her neck and torso during the attack, Essex Live reports.

Mary, from Dallastown in Pennsylvania, had arrived in the UK with a six-month visa to meet a man she had been speaking with online, an inquest at Seax House heard.

Adam Butt, 21, of Laing Road, Colchester, has been charged with murder and is due to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on April 28, 2021.

Mary’s family said in a statement: “Mary lost her mum a few years ago, but she had a goal to make her mum proud of her.

“She was looking to excel in life and will be loved and missed by all.”

A fundraising page has since been set up to cover the costs of bringing Mary’s body back to the US.

According to its creator, Todd Hoffman, she had been due to return on February 8.

Todd wrote: “Mary was so kind and selfless, she would give someone the shirt off her back. Mary was quiet and didn’t ask for much.

“She wasn’t the kind of person that likes to fight or argue. She was very shy. Mary had a tough couple of years.

“Mary lost her mom due to health problems and lost her grandmother who took care of her after her mom died 2 years ago.”

Hundreds of people have already donated to help the family, and the page has raised more than $3,000 (£2,198).

Adam added: “With Covid-19 going on, there is a lot of rules that have to be in place to bring her back from England…the faster we can get to our goal the faster the family can begin to process what happened and why.

“Every penny counts. Please share.”

Click here to donate.