Daughter of Soham Killer Ian Huntley Calls for His Ashes to Be Flushed Away
Samantha Bryan, the only child of convicted murderer Ian Huntley, has declared she was "over the moon" upon learning of her father's death and believes his ashes should be flushed down a toilet. In a candid interview following Huntley's passing, Bryan revealed her profound relief and lack of sorrow, stating she smiled rather than cried when she received the news.
Prison Attack Leads to Huntley's Death
Ian Huntley, aged 52, died in hospital on Saturday after being assaulted by another inmate in the workshop of HMP Frankland, a maximum security prison in Durham. The attack occurred on 26 February, resulting in severe brain trauma for Huntley, who had been serving a life sentence with a minimum 40-year tariff for the 2002 murders of 10-year-old schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, Cambridgeshire.
The case, which shocked the nation, involved Huntley luring the girls into his home while his partner, teaching assistant Maxine Carr, was away for the weekend. He later dumped their bodies in a ditch 10 miles away, sparking a massive police search and intense media coverage.
Samantha Bryan's Emotional Response
Now 27 years old, Samantha Bryan discovered Huntley was her biological father at age 14 while researching a school crime project. She told The Sun newspaper that his death was not entirely unexpected, as she had been informed of his critical injuries the previous week. "I'm just glad he's gone," Bryan said. "It wasn't as much of a shock as when I heard last week he'd been terribly injured as I thought he'd died then."
She emphasized that Huntley meant nothing to her beyond biology, adding, "He's nothing to me apart from biology." Bryan also expressed deep sympathy for the victims' families, stating, "Over the years I've cried many times over the thought of Holly and Jessica and what their family have gone through. I don't ever want Holly and Jessica to ever be forgotten."
Background of the Soham Murders
Huntley's crimes unfolded after Holly and Jessica left a family barbecue to buy sweets, only to be murdered by Huntley. During his trial at the Old Bailey, he attempted to convince the jury that Holly had drowned accidentally in a bath after a nosebleed and that he killed Jessica while trying to silence her screams. The jury rejected his account, convicting him of two counts of murder in December 2023.
At the time of the murders, Huntley was a school caretaker living with Maxine Carr, who was later convicted of perverting the course of justice. The disappearance of the girls prompted a nationwide search, with Huntley even giving interviews to journalists, one of whom, Brian Farmer from the Press Association, became so concerned that he alerted the police.
Ongoing Investigation into Huntley's Death
A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary confirmed that the police investigation into the circumstances of Huntley's death is ongoing. A file is being prepared for the Crown Prosecution Service to consider potential charges related to the prison attack. Huntley, one of Britain's most reviled killers, leaves behind a legacy of tragedy that continues to affect his family and the victims' loved ones.
Samantha Bryan's mother, Katie Bryan, had been in a relationship with Huntley when she was 15, becoming pregnant at 16 before leaving him. Bryan's stark comments about disposing of Huntley's ashes highlight the enduring pain and division caused by his heinous actions.
