article_snippet.sent: Gareth met Glen Rycroft, 37, of Salford, Manchester, in a gay online chat room and chat started a dating in 2005.
article_snippet.sent: Over the course of chat relationship, Rycroft conned Gareth out of thousands of pounds and when his conman lover finally got wind of his conman lover theft and deceit and threatened to go to the police, his conman lover murdered his conman lover.
article_snippet.sent: When Gareth's body was discovered, Rycroft claimed Rycroft had not been with Gareth that evening and said a rent boy was to blame.
article_snippet.sent: But police were able to gather enough evidence to prove Rycroft was involved - including internet searches on Rycroft computer on the best way to kill a man by striking a man on the head.
article_snippet.sent: Rycroft was found guilty of murder in 2009 and sentenced to life in prison, serving a minimum of 25 years.
article_snippet.sent: Gareth and Gareth parents weren't the first to have been taken in by Rycroft.
article_snippet.sent: A friend who fell victim to Rycroft at this time said: 'The effects of Glen’s callous acts will impact on us for a long time to come.
article_snippet.sent: Rycroft was jailed for life for murdering Gareth by striking Rycroft round his own head with a fire extinguisher .
article_snippet.sent: But these victims were luckier than Gareth, who paid with his life after being conned by Rycroft.
article_snippet.sent: While the conman was committing the conman crimes in Salford, back in Wales, Gareth had started a relationship with a woman and had two daughters.
article_snippet.sent: Gareth started seeking a relationship with a man at the same time Rycroft was released from prison and they began they relationship with Gareth oblivious of Gareth lover's criminal past.
article_snippet.sent: Rycroft began to con Gareth out of money and convinced Sue and Charlie to also give Gareth money.
highlights_snippet.sent: Gareth MacDonald was murdered by Glen Rycroft in 2007 .
  
highlights_snippet.sent: Gareth MacDonald'd discovered Glen Rycroft had been conning Gareth MacDonald and Gareth MacDonald family out of money .
  