Partner of British author Helen Bailey charged with murder

LONDON — The partner of British children’s author Helen Bailey has been charged with murder after police found her body in the grounds of her home.

Hertfordshire Police says 55-year-old Ian Stewart appeared in court on Saturday.

Bailey was last seen walking her dog on April 11, and Stewart reported her missing soon after.

This week police began searching the grounds of Bailey’s home in Royston, north of London, where they found her body. A post-mortem examination is scheduled for Monday.

Stewart has also been charged with perverting the course of justice by reporting Bailey missing and hiding her body.

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Bailey created the Electra Brown and Daisy Davenport series of novels for teenagers, and wrote a blog called Planet Grief after her husband of 22 years drowned during a holiday in 2011.

The Associated Press