Lewis Daynes is a former computer engineer famous for his involvement in a tragic and shocking crime that occurred in 2014.
He was responsible for the murder of 14-year-old Breck Bednar, a case that has attracted widespread attention for its disturbing details and the legal battle that followed.
The two met through online gaming, where Daynes, a reclusive young computer engineer, lured Breck to his flat in Grays, Essex, under the pretext of friendship.
After manipulating and grooming Breck for several months, Daynes committed the brutal murder.
This case highlighted the dangers of online predators, making Daynes infamous for his manipulation and cold-blooded nature of his crimes.
File
- Full name: Lewis Daynes
- Date of birth: Not applicable
- Age: About 28 years old
- Gender: Male
- Place of birth: Not applicable
- Nationality: English
- Occupation: Former computer engineer (unemployed at the time of the incident)
- Height: Not applicable
- Parents: Live with grandparents; estranged parents
- Siblings: Not applicable
- Spouse: Not applicable
- Children: Not applicable
- Relationship status: Not married
- Religion: Not applicable
- Ethnicity: Not applicable
- Net worth: $10k
Early life and education
Lewis Daynes grew up in the United Kingdom and although details about his childhood are scant, reports indicate that his family environment was unstable.
After his parents separated, he lived with his mother before moving in with his father and then his grandparents. For a time, he was also placed in the care system, although it is unclear for how long.
At age 16, Daynes lived alone in an apartment owned by his grandparents, contributing to his increasingly reclusive lifestyle. There is no widespread information about his formal education or any degrees he may have pursued. However, he still has math and computational skills, which he uses to manipulate and control his online gaming friends.
Personal life
Daynes maintains an isolated personal life. At the time of the crime, he lived alone in an apartment and had no romantic relationships or children.
His interactions with people were primarily through online platforms, especially gaming communities, where he cultivated relationships with younger teenagers, including his victims. me, Breck Bednar.
There have been reports of Daynes being involved in troubling behavior in the past, including allegations of grooming and sexual misconduct against other young individuals. Despite these allegations, no action was taken until the fatal incident involving Breck.
Career
Lewis Daynes has a background in computing and is known as a computer engineer. He uses this knowledge to gain the trust of others, especially vulnerable boys, through online games such as Call of Duty* and Battlefield.
Daynes promised Breck Bednar and others career opportunities, including an offer to work for a new technology company, although these claims were completely fabricated.
Daynes’ career never grew beyond these false claims, and at the time of Breck’s murder, he was unemployed and living in relative isolation. He used his computer skills for manipulation purposes, leading to the unfolding tragedy.
Net worth
Lewis Daynes net worth is around $10 thousand. At the time of his arrest, he was unemployed and lived alone in an apartment provided by his grandparents.
Argumentative
The 2014 murder of Breck Bednar is one of the most notorious crimes related to online grooming. Daynes, 18, befriended Breck through online gaming platforms, convincing him that they shared a deep bond.
For several months, he manipulated Breck, telling him lies like being terminally ill and needing help from a tech company. Despite warnings from Breck’s mother, who reported concerns to the police about Daynes’ controlling behavior, no precautions were taken.
On 17 February 2014, Breck arrived at Daynes’ flat in Grays, Essex, believing he would spend the weekend learning about Daynes’ technology venture. Instead, Daynes bound him with duct tape and murdered him by slitting his throat.
The crime was sexually motivated, although exact details of what happened inside the apartment remain unclear. After the murder, Daynes coldly called the police and claimed there had been an “argument.” Police later found Breck’s bound and severely injured body in Daynes’ bedroom.
Daynes also attempted to destroy evidence by submerging his electronic devices in water. Daynes pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life in prison in January 2015. The media covered the case extensively and drew attention to the problem of online predators and groomers .
The Breck family later founded the Breck Foundation, a charity dedicated to raising awareness of the dangers of online grooming. In the years after his imprisonment, Daynes was accused of continuing to taunt Breck’s family behind bars.
He allegedly posted offensive blogs describing his apartment during the trial and criticized media depictions of the crime. Although these online posts caused distress to Breck’s family, authorities were unable to bring additional charges against Daynes due to a lack of direct evidence.