Ian Huntley Dies Following Prison Assault
Ian Huntley, convicted of the 2002 murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, has died after being attacked in prison.
Ian Huntley, the former school caretaker convicted of murdering 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2002, has died following an assault in prison. The 52-year-old was attacked on February 26 in the workshop of HMP Frankland, Durham, by an inmate wielding a metal bar. Huntley sustained severe head injuries and was placed on life support at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary. After brain tests indicated he was in a vegetative state, life support was withdrawn on Friday, and he was pronounced dead on Saturday.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson stated: "The murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman remain one of the most shocking and devastating cases in our nation's history, and our thoughts are with their families."
Durham Constabulary confirmed that a man in his mid-40s was detained in connection with the assault. Reports suggest that Anthony Russell, a 43-year-old serving a whole-life tariff for multiple murders, is the suspected assailant. Russell was convicted in 2021 for the murders of Julie Williams, her son David Williams, and Nicole McGregor, whom he also raped.
Huntley had been serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years for the Soham murders. This incident marks the latest in a series of attacks on Huntley during his incarceration. In 2010, he was slashed in the neck by fellow inmate Damien Fowkes, requiring 21 stitches. In 2005, he was scalded with boiling water by another prisoner.
Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman disappeared on August 4, 2002, after leaving a family barbecue in Soham, Cambridgeshire, to buy sweets. Their bodies were discovered nearly two weeks later in a ditch approximately 12 miles away. Huntley was arrested and subsequently convicted of their murders in 2003.
HMP Frankland is a Category A prison housing high-profile inmates, including individuals convicted of serious offenses. The facility has experienced previous incidents of violence among inmates.
This is a developing story; further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.