In 2002, the UK was gripped by the harrowing Soham Murders, etching the names of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman into the nation's memory.

Local reporter Debbie Davies, now Editor of Newsquest's Cambridgeshire titles, was editor of Ely and Soham Standard at the time of the murders.

Watch Debbie Davis as she discusses her first-hand account and brings us closer to the tragic events that unfolded.

On the morning of August 5, 2002, Debbie learned that two 10-year-old girls had gone missing in Soham, prompting search parties throughout the night.

In the following days, Soham became a hive of activity, with police, journalists, and camera crews descending on the town. Debbie took the initiative to create and distribute posters appealing for information about the missing girls. She visited Soham Village College, where Ian Huntley and his partner Maxine Carr lived, unaware that the girls had already fallen victim to Huntley.

Huntley was sentenced to life in prison after the girls' bodies were found two weeks after they had gone missing. Maxine Carr was found guilty of conspiring to pervert the course of justice and received a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence in 2003.

 

This article is part of True Crime UK by Newsquest: A captivating new subscriber-only section with gripping documentaries, immersive podcasts, and exclusive content. Immerse yourself in a world of fascinating stories, expertly curated by our team with insight from local journalists who covered the stories first-hand.