Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman were two 10-year old classmates who had been friends since they were only four years old. . In 1996, two boys of similar age, Patrick Warren and David Spencer, went missing from their homes. Grief does not diminish, but you can manage the intensity and learn to live with it.. [222][223], In April 2007, Huntley confessed to having sexually assaulted an 11-year-old girl he had dragged into an orchard in 1997. Latham delivered his closing argument on behalf of the prosecution by describing Huntley and Carr as "accomplished liars"[143] before outlining the prosecution's case that both children had to die to satisfy Huntley's "selfish self-interest" before Huntleywith Carr's supporthad embarked on twelve days of "cynical deception", with Carr only revealing the truth to police after being informed of the discovery of the children's bodies. After the kidnapping, both girls were killed. [3] She received a three-and-a-half year prison sentence for conspiring with Huntley to pervert the course of justice. Huntley, 30, who is serving life for the double child killings of Holly . [168] The marriage was short-lived due to Huntley's volatile temper, which surfaced within days of their marriage. 13 days later after their disappearance their bodies were found on August 17th 2002 in a wooded area in LakenHeath Suffolk 10 Miles from Soham where the two Girls lived. [92] Carr also displayed a thank-you card to this reporter which had recently been given to her by Wells on the last day of the school year. Ian Huntley brutally murdered schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in the Soham murders of 2002 - and persuaded his girlfriend Maxine Carr to cover for him. Runtime: 92 minutes. It was the 4th of August 2002. Discussing Huntley's mindset, Leslie Chapman opined: "I think he was a time bomb waiting to go off and both our girls were in the wrong place at the wrong time. [53] When he had replied Carr had not got the job, one of the girls had said, "Tell her we're sorry" before they both walked along College Street towards a bridge leading towards Clay Street. We do chat about her quite regularly, which I think is a very nice thing. [146], On 10 December, counsel for both prosecution and defence delivered their closing arguments to the jury. This information was later included in a televised appeal about the children's disappearance on the BBC's Crimewatch, but this potential lead failed to bear fruit. Investigators believe that prior to his 2002 arrest, Huntley had engaged in illegal sexual activity with up to 60 underage girls. [15][16] Chapman's Nokia 6110 mobile phone was switched off at 6:46p.m.[17][1][18], At 8:00p.m., Nicola Wells entered her daughter's bedroom to invite the girls to say goodbye to her house guests, only to discover both children were missing. To download all election summary data click here. When Huntley became aware of Clift's presence, he abruptly closed the boot. [207][n 16] No background check was conducted before or after this job interview,[108] and although Huntley lacked extensive experience in this form of employment, his application for this position was successful. [161], At both primary and secondary school, Huntley was an average scholar. Referencing one of the 1998 rapes he had committed but had earlier claimed to her to have been falsely accused of in this phone call, Huntley then began voicing concerns as to again being falsely accused of involvement on this occasion, also claiming his previous arrest had caused him to suffer a nervous breakdown. The two photogenic 10-year-olds were the very model of typical children growing up in a "safe", quiet, English town. At the time, he said: After losing Holly we both witnessed and experienced the effects that bereavement and the grieving process can have on your life. Where do Carole Middleton and Michael Middleton live? More than 400 officers worked around the clock to find the girls, along with hundreds of locals who volunteered to help and appealed to . [6] He stressed that the cause of death was murder, adding: "Ten-year-old girls don't just drop dead. The Wells family still live in Soham, the village where Holly was killed. [165], In 1990, Huntley finished his schooling, obtaining five GCSE passes. Therefore, in this ruthless man's mind, both girls had to die in his own selfish self-interest." Huntley's parents enrolled their son in Immingham Comprehensive at age 13. His explanation for this was that he wanted to convey to the media the frustration and despair the community was feeling. Notorious killer gets throat slashed in jail. . Sign in to watch. Carr was sentenced to serve three-and-a-half years in prison for perverting the course of justice. Nicola and Kevin have spoken often about their loss and how they tried to move on with their lives for the sake of Hollys brother Oliver. On one occasion, he beat his wife so badly she suffered a miscarriage. 10 year old Jessica Chapman called over to see her friend Holly Wells. Referencing Carr's conscious efforts to deceive the police and media alike, Latham stated: "She had the prospect of marriage, a baby, a nice home and a new start. Ian Huntley was found guilty of their murders and sentenced to life in prison. [170] Within four weeks of their acquaintance,[199] she had moved into Huntley's Barton-upon-Humber flat, and the couple informed relatives of their eagerness to start a family. When they were returning home, they were lured into the local resident, Ian Kevin Huntley's home. But where are Holly & Jessicas families now? [185] Psychologists have also determined Huntley has mentally blocked any attempts to accept the reality or enormity of his actions pertaining to his repeated violence against females in order that he might cope with the consequences of his actions. [173] Rumours of Huntley's sexual interest in underage girls soon became community gossip, and he was regularly insulted by neighbours and colleagues. [169] Shortly after their separation, Huntley's wife formed a relationship with and later married Huntley's younger brother, Wayne. Wed, 17 Dec, 2003 - 13:00. [24] One of these officers observed three vertical scratches on Huntley's left jaw, each measuring approximately three centimetres (1.2in), which he claimed had been recently inflicted by his dog. A month later, Huntley was charged and remanded in custody at HM Prison Wolds for one week after another 18-year-old Grimsby woman claimed Huntley beat and raped her while she was walking home from a local nightclub. The reason for this decision had been that both bodies were too extensively decomposed and damaged by fire to enable a conclusive determination of either the actual cause of death or if either girl had been subjected to a sexual assault. Even at four years old, the two girls instantly became best friends, practically joined at the hip, and . Sharon and Leslie have kept their grief largely private. [108] This left police with no option but to refer Huntley to a mental hospital to undergo an extensive psychological evaluation. Holly Wells, born on September 1, 1991, in Soham, Cambridgeshire, was brutally murdered along with her best friend, Jessica Chapman. A documentary about Ian Huntley and Maxine Carr will air on Channel 5 on 9 and 10 March 2022 at . "[79], An online book of condolence attracted more than 31,000 messages of grief and sympathy[80] and on 24 August, football clubs across Britain held a minute's silence before games. [215] Following this attack, Huntley alleged that prison authorities had failed in their duty of care towards him, and launched a claim for 15,000 in compensation. The inspiration for dedicating a flower to the children's memory came from a poem read aloud at the memorial service at Ely Cathedral on 30 August 2002 by the father of Wells, titled Soham's Rose. [114][n 11] She was further charged with two counts of assisting an offender on 17 January 2003. She was murdered alongside her best friend, Jessica Chapman. It was startling to see the previous fiance of Ian Huntley grinning in an outdated interview movie as she mentioned the victims, Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, with a BBC reporter. [106][107], During initial questioning, Huntley refused to answer questions and appeared evasive, confused, and emotionally detached, occasionally drooling during police attempts to question him in an effort to feign mental illness. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. In your attempts to escape responsibility, in your lies and manipulation you have increased the suffering of two families. He was regarded as a loner, an oddball and an attention seeker by his peers, and became a target for bullies. Girl who thinks she might be Madeleine shunned by family for giving hope to McCanns, Ant and Dec defend Saturday Night Takeaway pranks in wake of Ofcom complaints. Locals would rally around the families of the girls and dedicate hours of their time searching for them . [92], On 3 December, Carr went into the witness box to testify in her own defence. [112], By 20 August, investigators had established sufficient physical evidence from Huntley's home, vehicle and Soham Village College to charge him with two counts of murder. Staff and agencies. Holly was buried yesterday after a service at St Andrew's Church in Soham, Cambridgeshire.Sep 4, 2002 We had a flood. To one colleague, Capp would talk incessantly about her dreams of leaving this employment and embarking on a teaching career. Each provided witness statements before being placed in a safe house in the village of Histon. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of imprisonment to be imposed by the Lord Chief Justice at a later date. Minutes after their daughter's 8:30p.m. curfew had expired, Nicola Wells phoned the Chapman residence to ask if the girls were there, only to learn Leslie and Sharon Chapman were worried that their youngest daughter had not returned home. Referring to Wells in the past tense, Carr stated, "She was just lovely, really lovely",[93] before making a direct appeal to the children: "Just get on the phone and just come home. [17], Prosecutors at Huntley's trial contended he had lured the children into his house with a likely sexual motivation, but investigators found no evidence of premeditation in relation to the murders. They both lived in the village of Soham in Cambridgeshire, where they went to St Andrew's Primary School. The injuries Huntley received in this attack resulted in his being unable to attend the hearing at which his minimum term of imprisonment was decided. [119], To determine Huntley's state of mental health, he was detained under Section 48 of the Mental Health Act for almost two months at Rampton Secure Hospital. [230], At least a dozen women have been falsely identified as being Carr and either persecuted or physically attacked due to false stories speculating as to her whereabouts and new identity which have been printed in tabloid publications. Shortly thereafter, Huntley obtained employment as a barman in a local pub. Nicola and Kevin Wells are the parents of Holly, who was murdered along with her best friend on August 4 2002. [19] Following subsequent frantic efforts by the families of both girls to locate their daughters, Wells and Chapman were reported missing by their parents at 9:55p.m.[20], Police immediately launched an intensive search for the missing children. Messages and flowers in remembrance of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells lie on the ground August 18, 2002 outside St Andrew's Church in Soham,. [96], Having participated in the search for the children, Huntley regularly asked police officers questions such as how their investigation was progressing and how long DNA evidence could survive before deteriorating. [228] At the time, Carr was one of four former prisoners in the UK to be given a new identity upon release. [202] Noting how Carr often became flirtatious when she consumed alcohol, Huntley sought to minimise any opportunity for her to drink or otherwise socialise outside his presence for fear of her cheating on him with other males. Private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, working for the . [235], Immediately after Huntley's conviction, previous criminal allegations against him were made public. Big Zuu profile: What is his net worth and does he have a wife? The Soham murders were a double child murder committed in Soham, Cambridgeshire, England on 4 August 2002. He then claimed to her Chapman had sat on their bed as he had helped Wells control the bleeding from her nose before both girls had left their home. [160], Huntley was a timid child, and something of a mother's boy. Holly Wells, left, and Jessica Chapman were just 10 years old when they were murdered in 2002. Credit: Photo: BRIAN SMITH. Huntley's precise motivation for voluntarily informing police of his encountering the children outside his home is unknown; it is speculated he chose to do so out of concerns. I wish I could see her now, see what shed have looked like, he said. Pro Tools Operator JOHN PRESTAGE. [102][n 10], Having discovered the children's clothes at Soham Village College,[82] police decided to arrest Huntley and Carr. She further explained her focus had therefore been to protect Huntley's job and reputation, adding that had she known of Huntley's guilt, she would never have attempted to provide him with a false alibi, stating to her counsel: "If, for a minute, I [had known] or believed he'd murdered either of those girls I would have been horrified. [69] In an apparent effort to destroy forensic evidence, the murderer or murderers had attempted to burn both bodies. He chose not to enrol in college and instead committed himself to finding employment. FRIENDS Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman went missing in August 2002 and their bodies were not found until more than a week later. On June 16, 2003, Ian Huntly pleaded not guilty to the formal charges accusing him of murdering Holly and Jessica . 17 December 2003[151], Following the conclusion of both counsels' closing arguments, Mr Justice Moses announced the jury would begin their deliberations on 12 December. DESCRIPTIONOn the 4th of August 2002, best friends Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman disappeared from the small town of Sohom in England.One of England's bigge. Holly's parents moved out of the home where she had spent her last day, enjoying a family barbeque with best friend Jessica, who had rushed . Chris Young - PA Images/PA Images/Getty Images, schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman were murdered. [78] This service was attended by about 2,000 people, including the girls' classmates, teachers and the six family liaison officers who had provided 24-hour service for both families. Ian was sentenced to life sentences. I get the impression that the Chapman's do not want any publicity at all rather than there being any hostility. Today's service is a small milestone in our shared journey of grief and sorrow it is our hope that we may perhaps draw a line under one phase of our grieving and begin to look forward. It is believed that Cambridgeshire Police failed to perform a background check under the name Huntley. Performed by Frankie Goes to . Get back in the van! [9], The final criminal allegation against Huntley prior to the Soham murders dates from July 1999. Its strange being three of us, when there used to be a fourth.. He applied for and secured employment as a senior caretaker at this secondary school in September 2001, supervising the work of four other employees. ', "Huntley's Question to Police: Am I a Suspect? [74], The following day, Cambridgeshire Deputy Chief Constable Keith Hodder released a press statement to the media confirming the discovery of the children's bodies, adding that both families had been informed of the developments and that although positive formal identification would take several days, investigators were as "certain as [they] possibly could be" the bodies were those of Wells and Chapman. I'm going to be inside forever, and it'll be torture. [13], The precise events after the girls entered 5 College Close are unknown, but investigators believe sections of Huntley's later claims in initial interviews granted to the media prior to his arrest and his later trial testimonysuch as that he had been cleaning his dog at the time the girls passed by his house around 6:30p.m. and that one girl had been suffering from a nosebleedmay have been true. Mark Tuck informed investigators that as he had driven past the girls on Sand Street in Soham town centre at approximately 6:30p.m. on 4 August,[44] his attention had been drawn toward their Manchester United replica shirts, causing him to remark to his wife, Lucy: "Look! Sophie Turners Joan Charts The Rise Of A Famous British Jewel Thief, 'Art Attack' Neil Buchanan's Latest Gig Is A Far Cry From The CITV Show, Stephen Fry Is Set To Host 'Jeopardy!s UK Comeback, The 'How I Met Your Mother' Cast Just Had A Legendary Reunion. "[134], Testimony relating to the forensic evidence linking Huntley was heard on 24 November. We have her pictures in and around the house, but its not a shrine we dont live in the past.. C ya around school! At age 10, Wells and Chapman went missing from the Wells home on August 4, 2002, and were found dead on August 17, 2002, after going missing for almost two weeks. The parents of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman have long been commended for their dignity and grace during what can only be described as unimaginable heartbreak. The Bichard Inquiry Report of 2004 was commissioned by the government following the conviction of Ian Huntley for the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2003. [218][219][220], On 5 September 2006, Huntley attempted to kill himself by taking an overdose of antidepressants he had accumulated in his prison cell. [57], On 6 August, Huntley drove from Soham to Grimsby to pick up Carr. While Kevin and Nicola have remained together since the unimaginable death of their daughter, they struggled for quite some time. [71], The funeral services for Wells and Chapman were held on consecutive days in September 2002. Watch on . The parents of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman will probably never know how their daughters died. Sign up for Bustle UK's twice-weekly newsletter, featuring the latest must-watch TV, moving personal stories, and expert advice on the hottest viral buys. The girls had been at a Wells family barbecue before sneaking out to buy sweets. A prisoner who is serving a life sentence for the notorious murders of British schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman is in hospital after having .