Huntley’s daughter brands him ‘coward’ for refusing prison meeting
Daughter's hopes dashed as Huntley refuses to meet and reveal truth
Ian Huntley’s daughter has branded him a ‘coward’ following his refusal to meet her. Samantha Bryan, 26, has been trying to visit her father in Frankland prison, Durham. Huntley is serving a life sentence for the 2002 murders of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, East Cambridgeshire.
Samantha has long hoped Huntley would reveal the true events surrounding the deaths of the ten-year-old girls. The children are believed to have died of asphyxiation before their charred remains were found in a ditch near RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, about ten miles from Soham. Huntley, who worked as a school caretaker, has never fully disclosed the details.
Huntley’s recent letter to Samantha has dashed her hopes of uncovering the truth. He wrote, “Given the probable length of my future and your current motives, I doubt there will be enough time for a significant shift in circumstances in order for us to ever meet.”
Soham killer Ian Huntley's chilling letter to daughter after her plea for answers https://t.co/e7OHJW14O3 pic.twitter.com/LM04lA5Bvt
— Daily Star (@dailystar) August 25, 2024
Samantha expressed her frustration and anger, calling him a “pitiful, twisted, manipulative coward.” She added, “His letter has left me with even more questions than I had before. If he is sick, why not give some answers? You’d have nothing left to lose.”
During his trial, Huntley claimed both girls’ deaths were accidental, stating Holly drowned in the bath and he accidentally suffocated Jessica while trying to stop her from screaming. However, in 2018, he admitted he deliberately killed Jessica to prevent her from telling anyone about Holly’s death.
Samantha has sought a meeting with Huntley due to his previous suicide attempts, violent attacks in prison, and reported serious illness. She hoped he would reveal “at least part of the truth,” but now believes he wants to avoid making things worse for himself. She described his refusal to meet as a “cowardly thing to do.”
Samantha discovered Huntley was her father at age 14. Her mother Katie Bryan, 46, claims she met Huntley at 15 and had a relationship with him while underage. Katie alleges Huntley became violent, raped her, and pushed her down the stairs during her pregnancy with Samantha, leading her to leave him.
Samantha, who has endured lifelong nightmares about her father, wanted answers for herself and the families of Holly and Jessica. She said, “It deeply troubles me that they haven’t had answers. But his reply is so definitive I’m now going to step back and stop hoping. I need to step away – for the sake of my sanity and my future.”
Huntley will not be eligible for parole until 2042, by which time he will be 68. His ex-girlfriend Maxine Carr was sentenced to three-and-a-half years for perverting the course of justice but was released after 21 months. Carr was relocated to a safe house, granted lifelong anonymity, and given a new identity.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Mirror.co.uk reports on the unsettling letter from Ian Huntley to his daughter, denying her a chance to learn the truth about his crimes, leaving her with more questions and contempt.(read more)
- Ground News reports on Ian Huntley’s daughter Samantha Bryan, who calls her father a ‘coward’ after he refuses to meet her, despite her attempts to visit him in prison.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who is Ian Huntley?
Ian Huntley is a convicted murderer who killed schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2002.
Why does Samantha Bryan want to meet Ian Huntley?
Samantha Bryan wants to meet Ian Huntley to uncover the truth about the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.
What did Huntley’s letter to Samantha say?
Huntley’s letter suggested there won’t be enough time for circumstances to change for them to meet.
Has Ian Huntley confessed to the murders?
Ian Huntley has admitted to deliberately killing Jessica Chapman but has not given a full confession.
What is Samantha Bryan’s reaction to Huntley’s refusal to meet?
Samantha Bryan called hima ‘coward’ and expressed her frustration at his refusal to meet.
