Daughter of Soham Murderer Ian Huntley Left 'Disgusted' by Police Funeral Request
Samantha Bryan, the daughter of notorious child killer Ian Huntley, has revealed she was left feeling "disgusted" and furious after police officers approached her to ask if she wanted to contribute towards her biological father's funeral costs. This shocking request came just days after Huntley's violent death in prison earlier this month.
The Brutal Prison Attack That Ended Huntley's Life
Ian Huntley, aged 52, was serving a life sentence for the horrific 2002 murders of ten-year-old schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, Cambridgeshire. The convicted killer met his own violent end when he was bludgeoned with a spiked metal pole during a workshop at HMP Frankland on February 26. The attack left Huntley with catastrophic skull injuries, with reports describing him as being "ripped apart like a rat." He succumbed to his injuries days later at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.
Anthony Russell, a 43-year-old inmate, has since been charged with murder following the assault and remains in custody awaiting a plea and directions hearing scheduled for April 24 at Newcastle Crown Court.
A Daughter's Angry Rejection
In the wake of Huntley's death, Samantha Bryan from Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, was approached by two police officers who inquired whether she would take responsibility for funeral arrangements for a man she had never actually met. The thirty-minute interaction left her furious and determined to have no involvement.
"I had nothing to do with him in life and now I want nothing to do with him in death," Samantha told The Sun. "They asked if I wanted to take on the responsibility, purely because I am his biological daughter. He does not deserve the dignity of a funeral after what he did. I don't want any involvement."
She was informed she could potentially be held liable for funeral costs exceeding £3,000, but Samantha has firmly refused both to contribute financially and to receive Huntley's ashes.
A Painful Family History Revealed
Samantha only discovered Huntley was her father at age 14 during a school project on crime, when she stumbled upon a blurry online photograph of her mother with the notorious killer. Her mother, Katie Bryan, now 45, was groomed and abused by Huntley when she was just 15 years old, becoming pregnant at 16 before managing to escape what she describes as his "brutal clutches."
Katie Bryan maintained that the police proposition regarding funeral arrangements represented "the final indignity" her daughter would face from having one of Britain's most notorious killers as her biological father. She expressed that even in death, the Soham murderer continued to be a "blight" on Samantha's life.
Attempts to Uncover the Truth
From 2019 onward, after discovering her biological connection, Samantha wrote multiple letters to Huntley in prison requesting a face-to-face meeting. While Huntley acknowledged her as his daughter and expressed love for her in his replies, he repeatedly denied her requests for a meeting.
Samantha had hoped not to offer forgiveness, but to uncover the truth about the 2002 murders that could potentially provide closure for the victims' families. In a chilling handwritten letter reported by The Sun on Sunday in 2024, Huntley turned her down, stating: "I doubt there will be enough time for a significant shift in circumstances in order for us to ever meet."
This rejection led Samantha to abandon hope of discovering the truth, stepping away "for the sake of my sanity and my future" after the letter confirmed what she described as his "s****y" character.
Lasting Impact on a Daughter's Life
Samantha has spoken openly about how her life has been profoundly affected by her connection to the Soham murders. "I've undergone counselling and it has impacted everything from my jobs to relationships," she revealed. "I have suffered constant nightmares. People still stop me in the street and say, 'Your father is a monster', or, 'I know who your dad is.'"
She described particularly hurtful comments suggesting "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree," which she says "has always cut very deeply because I am the absolute opposite." Even romantic relationships have suffered, with partners leaving her and making comments about her connection to Huntley.
Unanswered Questions for Victims' Families
Both Samantha and her mother believe Huntley's ashes should be disposed of similarly to those of Moors Murderer Ian Brady in 2017, suggesting they should be "hurled into the sea." Samantha has previously expressed that his "ashes should be flushed down the toilet" and that she believes "the devil is waiting" for Huntley.
Katie Bryan expressed concern that Huntley might take the truth about Holly and Jessica's murders to his grave, denying closure to the girls' families who "deserve to know what really happened." Following Huntley's 2003 conviction, Jessica Chapman's father Leslie Chapman stated: "I hope the next time I see him, it will be like we saw our daughters - and it will be in a coffin."
Holly Wells' parents Kevin and Nicola Wells have previously spoken about how Huntley's refusal to provide complete truth has left them in "never-ending torment of uncertainty" about their daughter's final moments.
A Pattern of Prison Violence
This latest attack on Huntley represents at least the third time he has been assaulted behind bars. The convicted killer had also attempted to take his own life on two previous occasions during his imprisonment.
Both Samantha and her mother believe the prison attack was motivated by revenge for Huntley's horrific crimes, with Samantha attributing it to what she sees as his "inherently cowardly and evil nature." She has compared her father to other notorious British killers including Fred and Rose West and Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper.
An inquest into Ian Huntley's death is scheduled to begin next month as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding his violent end in custody.
