At first glance, the bungalow on the corner of Lincoln Road in Branston looks like the kind of place many families would love to settle into.
It’s neatly tucked behind a gated entrance, framed by well-kept hedges, with a long driveway leading to its welcoming front door.
Inside, there’s plenty of space: a large open-plan lounge complete with a cosy brick fireplace, a kitchen-diner perfect for family meals, and a light-filled conservatory that opens up to the garden.
The property also boasts four generous bedrooms, one of which comes with its own walk-in shower and bidet.
On the market for £435,000, estate agents are advertising it as a blank canvas—ready for a new family to add their own touch.
But beneath its tidy presentation lies a dark past that no fresh coat of paint can erase.
The Dark Secret Behind the Walls
In 2018, this very home became the scene of a chilling double murder.
Troubled university student Andrei-Mihai Simion-Munteanu, then 22, killed his mother, Dr Premm Monti, and her partner, Robert Tully, in a brutal knife attack.
Simion-Munteanu, who had recently failed his final computer studies exams at Lincoln University, strangled his mother before bludgeoning her partner with a hammer.
Their bodies lay undiscovered in the house for a week while he went on a road trip across the UK, celebrating in a disturbingly casual fashion.
A Murderer’s Road Trip
After the killings, Simion-Munteanu stole Mr. Tully’s car and set off on a 1,200-mile tour of the country.
He visited Stonehenge, Tintagel Castle, and even checked into a Travelodge in Cardiff, where he watched The Lion King at the cinema.
His trip also took him to Snowdonia in Wales and eventually to Aberdeen, Scotland, where he was arrested inside the stolen car.
Authorities only began searching for Dr. Monti and Mr. Tully after she failed to show up for work at a psychiatric clinic and efforts to trace Mr. Tully also came up empty.
How the Killings Were Discovered
Police traced the Toyota Rav4 through number plate recognition cameras, which led them to Aberdeen airport.
There, they found Simion-Munteanu and questioned him about his parents’ whereabouts.
Coldly, he told officers they should discuss the matter at a police station—before admitting outright that he had killed his mother.
When Lincolnshire police checked the bungalow, they found both bodies inside the unlocked home.
The Trial and His Chilling Words
During his trial at Lincoln Crown Court in 2020, Simion-Munteanu admitted to the killings but denied murder, claiming manslaughter due to diminished responsibility.
His defence highlighted his struggles with depression and his past treatment at a psychiatric hospital in the US.
However, prosecution psychiatrists painted a different picture.
They argued that he had planned the murders two weeks in advance, driven by anger and resentment toward his mother.
Disturbingly, they said he viewed the killings as an “experiment,” wanting to test how he would feel if he committed murder.
When asked why he did it, Simion-Munteanu told the court:
“I thought that I am evil and if I did that I would be happy.
You have to earn happiness. It doesn’t come from nowhere. I could earn this happiness by doing evil.”
The jury rejected his defence and found him guilty of murder. He was sentenced to life in prison.
The Bungalow Back on the Market
Now, seven years later, the bungalow is back on the property market.
Estate agents describe it as a “spacious four-bedroom detached bungalow set on a substantial plot” with flexible living space suitable for home working or guest accommodation.
The garden, which features a pergola and lawn, is advertised as a space full of potential.
There’s also a detached garage and gated driveway providing secure off-street parking.
But despite its promise, the listing includes a discreet warning: prospective buyers should enquire about the home’s history, as its past may heavily influence their decision.
A Fresh Start or a Haunted Home?
For some, the house offers a rare opportunity to buy a large property in a picturesque village just outside Lincoln.
For others, the memory of what happened there in 2018 may be too much to ignore.
While its walls may one day hear the laughter of a new family, for now, the Branston bungalow remains a house with a haunting story woven into its very foundations.