In July 2024, a brutal murder happened in the quiet town of Bushey in Hertfordshire, England.
This tragedy left a family shattered and the quiet community in shock.
Kyle Clifford, a former soldier, killed Carol Hunt and her daughters, Louise and Hannah.
He carried out the terrifying attack after one of the victims broke up with him.
Let's get into the details.
 |
| Carol Hunt and her daughters, Louise and Hannah. |
Background of the Case
In 2023, 25-year-old Louise Hunt started a relationship with Kyle Clifford, who was 26 at the time.
The couple met on a dating app and had been together for about 18 months before things started to go downhill.
Louise told her friends and family that Clifford had a bad temper and acted aggressively.
She called the relationship emotionally draining.
Louise’s family, including her mother Carol, 61, and sister Hannah, 28, seemed to agree with her.
They found Clifford to be disrespectful, arrogant, and odd, as reported by BBC.
Eventually, the relationship came to an end in late June 2024 after Louise sent Clifford a message telling him it was over.
She wrote, "Take care of yourself"
Clifford, however, did not take the breakup well, and he decided that murder was the only way out.
In the weeks before the murders, Clifford bought unusual items and searched for strange things online.
On July 3, 2024, he legally bought a crossbow, a cocking device, and six bolts online for £350.
He also purchased a special butchering knife, rope, petrol cans, and duct tape.
Additionally, he ordered a replica Glock air pistol, but thankfully, it never arrived.
 |
| Louise Hunt and Kyle Clifford |
The Brutal Murder
On July 9, 2024, Kyle Clifford went to the Hunt family home and carried out a heinous crime
He arrived around 2:32 PM, holding a bag with a butcher knife inside.
After claiming he was there to drop off some of Louise’s belongings, Carol Hunt let Clifford into their home.
Once he was inside, he attacked Carol and stabbed her to death.
His ex-girlfriend Louise was in a garden pod at the time, unaware of the violence happening inside the house.
Around 4:13 PM, she entered the home where Clifford was hiding and waiting.
He immediately tied her up using duct tape, binding her wrists and ankles.
For almost three hours, Clifford horrifically attacked Louise, including raping her.
During the attack, he used Louise’s phone to send a text message to her father, asking, “What time are you home?”
This was a calculated move to ensure that Louise’s father, John Hunt does not return unexpectedly and spoil his plans.
At approximately 6:50 PM, Clifford shot Louise with the crossbow, killing her.
Around the same time, Hannah Hunt, 28, returned home from work.
Unaware of what had happened, she entered the house and went upstairs.
Moments later, she texted her partner, urging him to call the police.
Sadly, before she could escape or receive help, Clifford shot her with the crossbow as well.
Despite her fatal injuries, Hannah managed to call 999.
Emergency services arrived at 19:10 but were unable to save Hannah.
After killing Hannah, Clifford abandoned his car and fled the scene.
 |
| John Hunt and his wife Carol |
The Investigation
Despite his careful planning, Clifford left behind crucial evidence that directly linked him to the crime.
This included a duct tape, a butchering knife, and a crossbow.
His thumbprint was also found on a bottle of vodka inside the home.
Witnesses saw him close to the Hunts’ home earlier that day, and his car was also caught on CCTV heading toward Bushey
By the evening of July 9, 2024, police had identified Kyle Clifford as the prime suspect.
During an investigation of the crime scene, detectives found empty petrol cans in the boot of Clifford’s car, which he abandoned while running away.
They also found a receipt for the crossbow, which he had bought online a few days earlier.
Furthermore, forensic analysis confirmed that the crossbow used in the murders was the same one Clifford bought.
On July 10, nearly 24 hours after the murders, Clifford was tracked down to a cemetery near his family’s home in Enfield.
As officers got close to arrest him, Clifford shot himself in the chest with the crossbow.
This senseless act left him paralyzed from the chest down.
Luckily, officers provided immediate medical assistance, saving Clifford’s life.
He was later rushed to the hospital, where he stayed for weeks to recover from his self-inflicted injuries.
During this time, forensic teams continued to gather evidence.
Clifford's phone records and internet history revealed his disturbing thoughts before the murders.
According to BBC, he had looked up whether alcohol was flammable.
This, along with the petrol cans found in his car, showed he might have planned to set the house on fire to destroy evidence.
His internet history also showed he had watched violent pornography and researched how to buy a crossbow, showing his clear intent to cause harm.
Kyle Clifford's Trial and Sentencing
Clifford faced three murder charges after he was released from the hospital.
He was also charged with false imprisonment, having offensive weapons, and rape.
On January 22, 2025, his trial started at the Cambridge Crown Court.
He pleaded guilty to murder, false imprisonment, and weapons charges.
However, he pleaded not-guilty to the rape charge and maintained his innocence.
In March of 2025, Clifford was convicted for all charges and he was sentenced to a whole-life order.
This means he will stay in prison for life, with no chance of parole.
The judge described the crimes as “dreadful” and “almost unspeakable.”
He stressed that the attacks were planned and deeply affected the Hunt family.
The sentencing gave the Hunt family some closure, but their grief is still immense.
John Hunt, who is a popular BBC racing commentator in England, thanked everyone for their support in a statement outside the court.
But he acknowledged that no sentence could undo the loss of his wife and daughters.
Got a tip about a crime? Please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS immediately.
You can also see how to report a crime anonymously online if you wish to remain anonymous.
Comments
Post a Comment