Triple crossbow horror leaves a community stunned and searching for answers
'This is the stuff nightmares are made of.’
The neighbours and loved ones of a mum and two daughters who were murdered on their quiet Hertfordshire street have been left ‘devastated’ by the ‘heinous killings’.
Carol Hunt, 61, the wife of racing commentator John Hunt, was found dead at her home in Bushey, near Watford, alongside the couple’s daughter’s Hannah, 28, and Louise, 25 on Tuesday evening, July 10.
Reports say the three women were held hostage for hours inside their home before they were killed with a crossbow.
Suspect Kyle Clifford, 26, is in serious condition in hospital after police launched an urgent manhunt to find him.
He was located Wednesday afternoon inside a cemetery in Enfield, North London with injuries, and is yet to speak to police.
Hertfordshire Police have said they have recovered a crossbow, adding they had no previous contact with the family or Clifford before.
The BBC confirmed Mr Hunt’s family were killed in the attack, and described their deaths as ‘utterly devastating’.
A note sent to BBC 5 Live staff read: ‘The news today about John Hunt’s family is utterly devastating.
‘Our thoughts are with John and his family at this incredibly difficult time and we will provide him with all the support we can.’
Police were called on Tuesday evening after neighbours heard a ‘shrill scream’ from a woman around 7pm.
Tributes have poured in for the victims, with Mrs Hunt’s childhood friend Lea Holloway said: ‘We grew up together and were pregnant at the same time. This is the stuff nightmares are made of.’
Alex Klein, who was in a relationship with beautician Hannah Hunt, 28, posted a photo of them together on Instagram with the caption: ‘RIP the love of my life, I will never forget you, stolen from me too soon.’
He added: ‘The brightest light in my life. My brave queen for life. Until we meet again… I love you Hansy.’
The timeline of the triple murder in Bushey
Tuesday evening
6.30pm: A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, claimed they heard a woman screaming which ‘sounded shrill’.
7pm: Police and ambulance arrived on the scene after it is thought the husband and father of the victims, John Hunt, raised the alarm returning home from work.
7.30pm: The area is ordered into lockdown as police carry out their search for the suspect throughout the night.
Wednesday
10am: Police name Kyle Clifford as the suspect as they issue for an appeal for information to help find him.
11.30am: Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has asked to be kept ‘fully updated’ on the killings.
12.30pm: Hertfordshire Police confirm the ages of the victims in a press conference, and believe other weapons alongside a cross bow may have been used.
1pm: Victims are named as Carol, 61, Hannah, 28, and Louise Hunt, 25, the wife and two daughters of BBC Five Live racing commentator John Hunt.
3.30pm: Armed police are pictured in Enfield as the manhunt continues.
6.25pm: Police confirm they found Clifford in Enfield in the afternoon with injuries. They also said they believed he was known to the victims.
ITV racing commentator Richard Hoiles, a long-time colleague of Mr Hunt’s, paid tribute from this afternoon’s meet at Newmarket.
He said: ‘It’s impossible to rationalise such a pointless, terrible and heinous act in modern day society.
‘I’ve known John for 30 years, we’ve started out together and during that time he’s become one of the most liked and respected members of the press room.
‘And liked because of his easy going personality, he is excellent company. If you spend even a moment in his company the odds are the talk will turn to family.
‘There’s plenty of people in the press room, I have no idea of their family but we all felt we knew Carole and the girls possibly far better than we actually did.
‘There was a bit of folklore that after our annual shindig at Christmas 20 odd years ago we’d all retired to the local pub and out would come pictures from John’s wallet of the girls at primary school who he’d share with random bar staff and anyone else who would care to listen.’
Minutes silences were held at Newmarket Racecourse, with racers pictured wearing black armbands and standing solemnly as they pay their respects.
The Rector of Bushey, Reverend David Stevenson, encouraged people not to gossip.
He said: ‘I have no answers, I don’t think anybody has any answers at the moment.
‘This is where we need to be careful and not gossip, not speculate and not have conspiracy theories.
‘We are to support each other but support the authorities and those in the know.’
The attack has come for appeals to review laws surrounding crossbows, with the Home Secretary promised she would review.
A woman who survived an attack, Laura Sugden, said the weapon needed to be treated the same way as guns after her husband was killed in 2018.
She said: ‘Just put some legislation in, bring them in line with firearms and try to prevent future deaths.’
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