What occurs to Ian Huntley’s property as Soham assassin dies week after jail assault

Soham murderer Ian Huntley has died a week after a brutal prison attack at HMP Frankland – but there are strict rules on what happens to his estate

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Ian Huntley’s death a week after a prison attack has raised questions over what will happen to his estate. In 2008, the notorious child murderer was locked up at the Category A facility in County Durham.

Known as ‘Monster Mansion,’ the jail houses inmates with terrifying reputations – including Anthony Russell, the triple murderer reportedly behind last week’s assault on the 52-year-old. Today, the monster who killed 10-year-old friends, Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman died after his life support machine was turned off.

Paul Hewitt, a legal specialist and partner in the trust, estate and inheritance disputes team at Withers, told the Mirror that handling financial and estate affairs whilst behind bars can prove extremely complex.

“Prisoners, like anybody else who is unable to directly manage their affairs, will have to entrust whatever they have to family members or advisors to look after,” he explains, regarding any assets someone like Huntley might possess when they are jailed for life. He adds that “It can be very difficult where the person in prison is trying to deal with financial matters to access their adviser.”

Huntley became one of Britain’s most infamous killers after his conviction for murdering the girls at his residence in Soham, Cambridgeshire on August 4, 2002.

At the time, he was employed as a school caretaker – despite previous accusations of sexual violence against young women and teenage girls.

The role came with a property – a three-bedroom detached house at the end of a small terrace next to the entrance to Soham Village College, where Huntley was employed. He shared the residence with his girlfriend Maxine Carr, who worked as a teaching assistant in the girls’ class.

Huntley moved in with Carr less than a year prior to murdering Holly and Jessica. Huntley was found guilty of both girls’ murders on 17 December 2003 and received two life sentences.

Upon his death, he won’t be leaving any property behind, as four months after he was locked up, 5 College Close was reduced to rubble. The house was demolished by a 20-ton bulldozer to prevent it from becoming a lasting reminder of their deaths.

Once Huntley had been charged with the murders, the house was shielded by a large fence, and the interior fixtures of the three-bedroom house had already been removed by forensic scientists during their investigations. Builders were ordered to crush and remove every piece of debris to deter souvenir hunters from taking away remnants.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire County Council stated that the decision was made after observing what occurred when other high-profile murder sites were demolished. “When Fred West’s house was knocked down they had people trying to grab bricks as souvenirs, so it will be crushed and disposed of,” he said.

Legal expert Hewitt told the Mirror that issues surrounding wills and inheritance more frequently arise for prisoners when they are the “beneficiary of an estate” or “sole surviving executor”, explaining: “The problems in this type of scenario are usually the other way round”.

Hewitt adds: “It’s possible there are outstanding criminal confiscation orders made in which the prosecutor could intervene to ensure that any unpaid penalties are paid out of the estate. But assuming those are satisfied, there are no rules preventing a prisoner owning assets.”

The specialist clarifies that drafting a will whilst behind bars follows the same guidelines as for those on the outside, “the same rules that apply to any will,” he says, for example – requiring two witnesses.

Huntley had been behind bars for more than 22 years, and whilst personal possessions are rigorously supervised, he has presumably gathered numerous items in his cell throughout two decades.

When any inmate dies, their possessions – including any money – are gathered by prison officers. The coroner or police will determine whether any items require retention as evidence, securing them until an inquest concludes; otherwise, they are handed back to their next of kin.

The distribution of Huntley’s personal belongings could prove somewhat complex. Hewitt explains: “If the prisoner has made a will their executor is responsible for collecting the effects and handing them on to whoever is entitled under the Will. Or they pass on intestacy – eg to their spouse if married.”

The legal specialist notes that when a prisoner dies whilst incarcerated, “the coroner is likely to be involved which tends to slow the process down.”

Belongings left unclaimed for three years (or one year for money) may be sold or disposed of, with any proceeds donated to specified charities, such as the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders. Following any death in custody, a post-mortem examination will be conducted.

Any money left in a prison account is typically passed on to the executor of their estate or straight to next of kin. Meanwhile, any external assets (including property or shares) are dealt with via probate or the usual administration of a deceased person’s estate.