Ian Huntley's Final Letter Revealed Prison Fears Before Fatal Attack
Notorious child killer Ian Huntley sent a final handwritten letter to a female pen pal just eight days before he was brutally attacked in prison, ultimately leading to his death. The 52-year-old, serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 40 years for the murders of ten-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, hinted at his difficult circumstances and fears of being targeted behind bars.
Chilling Details from Huntley's Last Correspondence
In his letter dated February 18, Huntley—identified as prisoner A5274AE—began by apologizing for his delayed response, stating: "Sorry for not writing sooner but I've had a lot to deal with lately. I hate writing letters at the best of times." The correspondence, obtained by The Sun, reveals Huntley's growing paranoia about his safety and that of his correspondent.
Huntley told the woman, who had been writing to him since October and sent him a Christmas card: "I've had to do some thinking. For your safety I've decided to discard everything you've sent and not proceed with having you cleared for calls and visits." He added: "You're a lovely person and I don't want you placed in harm's way due to your affiliation with me."
The letter concluded with Huntley writing: "Believe me when I say I have given this a great deal of thought and firmly believe it to be for the best. I hope all is well your end. Best wishes Ian." The identity of the woman has not been publicly disclosed.
Brutal Prison Attack and Subsequent Death
Huntley was rushed to hospital last Thursday after a fellow inmate allegedly attacked him with a metal pole at HMP Frankland, a high-security prison nicknamed 'Monster Mansion.' Prison officers initially found Huntley lying in a pool of blood and assumed he was dead at the scene.
The Soham murderer sustained severe injuries including multiple skull fractures, significant brain damage, and a broken jaw. His final days were spent in a medically induced coma with ventilator support. Huntley's mother, Lynda Richards, who managed to visit her dying son, reportedly could not recognize him following the violent assault.
The Ministry of Justice confirmed Huntley died on Saturday morning, March 7, after his 71-year-old mother agreed to allow medical staff to withdraw life support. Huntley had been given just a 5% chance of survival following the attack.
History of Prison Violence Against Huntley
This was not the first violent incident targeting Huntley during his incarceration. In September 2005, while detained at HMP Wakefield in Yorkshire, Huntley was scalded with boiling water by another inmate. Five years later in 2010, he was rushed to University Hospital of North Durham after suffering a seven-inch slash wound to his throat from a makeshift weapon.
Damien Fowkes, 36, admitted to the 2010 attempted murder of Huntley as well as killing fellow inmate Colin Hatch, a convicted paedophile and child murderer, at Full Sutton Prison near York. Fowkes used a razor blade melted onto plastic cutlery to inflict the neck wound on Huntley, reportedly asking a prison officer afterward: "Is he dead? I hope so."
Background of the Soham Murders
Huntley was convicted in 2003 for the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, both ten years old at the time. The girls disappeared on August 4, 2002, after leaving a family barbecue in Soham, Cambridgeshire, to buy sweets. Their bodies were discovered thirteen days later in a remote ditch near RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk.
Huntley's then-girlfriend, Maxine Carr—who worked as a teaching assistant at the girls' school—was convicted of perverting the course of justice for providing Huntley with a false alibi. The case remains one of Britain's most notorious child murder investigations, with Huntley's crimes continuing to generate public outrage nearly two decades later.
A source familiar with HMP Frankland revealed that inmates had long competed for the notoriety of being the one to attack Huntley, highlighting the dangerous environment the convicted murderer faced throughout his incarceration.
