I was the first reporter to interview Ian Huntley, the Soham double murderer, and his partner Maxine Carr after the disappearance of Holly and Jessica in Soham, Cambridgeshire, on August 4, 2002. Four days later, police released a list of sightings, revealing that the pair had left Holly's house at around 5 PM BST. According to detectives, about 30 minutes after setting off, the girls spoke to the caretaker of Soham Village College, the local secondary school, outside his home. Huntley told me that he had been washing his dog, Sadie, when the girls strolled by. However, some of the things he said raised red flags for me. I was troubled by the fact that the girls didn't mention the dog, despite the fact that it was big, hairy, and covered in soap. It didn't seem credible to me. Huntley's behavior also raised concerns. He was agitated and emotional throughout the interview, and refused to be photographed, even when Carr was happy to be pictured holding a card signed by the girls. Huntley's knowledge about the girls' potential reaction to a stranger in a car also seemed suspicious. He claimed to know how Holly would react, but he was a caretaker at a school they didn't attend. Shortly after leaving the property, I made a call that led to Huntley and Carr's arrest. It turned out that pretty much everything they had told me that morning was a lie. Their story was portrayed in the three-part Channel 5 drama, Maxine, in 2022. But here's where it gets controversial... Huntley's behavior and the girls' lack of reaction to the dog raised questions about their potential involvement. It's a chilling thought, but it's a question that many people have asked. And this is the part most people miss... The girls' lack of reaction to the dog could have been a sign that they were in danger. It's a chilling thought, but it's a possibility that can't be ignored. So, what do you think? Do you think the girls could have been in danger? Or do you think there's another explanation? Let me know in the comments.
