Ian Huntley - The Soham Murders

Psychological Red Flags, and Systemic Missed Warnings

Ian Huntley was the school caretaker in Soham, Cambridgeshire, who murdered ten-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman on 4 August 2002. The girls had been walking past Huntley’s house after leaving a family barbecue. He invited them inside and killed them shortly afterwards. His partner, Maxine Carr, provided him with a false alibi, claiming she had been with him that day. She was later convicted of perverting the course of justice.

Huntley disposed of the bodies near Lakenheath in Suffolk, where they were found almost two weeks later. The case triggered enormous public concern, not only because of the age of the victims but because Huntley had a history of allegations involving underage girls that had never led to convictions, meaning the school that employed him was unaware of his past.

In December 2003 Huntley was found guilty of both murders and given two life sentences with a whole-life tariff. Carr served 21 months for her role. The case led to major reforms in vetting procedures for anyone working with children in the UK, including the establishment of what became the Disclosure and Barring Service.