Thirty years after the brutal hammer murders of Lin Russell and her daughter Megan, 6, the case has been reopened with notorious serial killer Levi Bellfield now linked to the crime. Bellfield, who murdered 13-year-old Milly Dowler in 2002, confessed in writing to the Russell murders in 2023, though police initially disbelieved him. However, The Crime Desk has revealed that Bellfield is now boasting that his DNA will be found on items recovered from the scene.
The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) is re-examining the 1996 attack, which occurred on Cherry Garden Lane in Kent. Lin Russell and her daughters Megan and Josie, then nine, were bludgeoned with a hammer. Josie miraculously survived despite catastrophic head injuries. The attack later became known as the 'Chillenden Murders' due to the lane's proximity to that village.
Michael Stone was convicted in 2001 for the murders and given three life sentences. However, his conviction was based largely on an alleged jail cell confession to a fellow prisoner, as there was no forensic evidence linking him to the crime scene. Stone has consistently maintained his innocence and even turned down the possibility of parole in 2022, as it would have required an admission of guilt. Stone's sister, Barbara, who believes her brother is innocent, stated that Bellfield is certain his DNA will be found at the scene, and expressed hope that the re-examination will identify the true perpetrator.
Bellfield first approached Stone's solicitor, Paul Bacon, in 2020. After several meetings, Bellfield provided a written confession in January 2022. This confession was leaked to the press, leading Bellfield to withdraw it. He later provided a fresh, signed confession in April 2023, which Mr. Bacon noted contained details only someone present at the scene would know. Mr. Bacon had become suspicious of Bellfield's potential involvement after his conviction for the Milly Dowler murder in 2011, noting similarities between the cases.
New forensic analysis has been submitted to the CCRC, and DNA samples from both Stone and Bellfield will be tested against evidence from the murder scene. Both men are currently serving time at HMP Frankland. Criminologists have cautioned that Bellfield, known as a fantasist, might be making false claims for attention.
The murders continue to cast a long shadow over the picturesque village of Nonington. Many residents still avoid Cherry Garden Lane, the site of the attack. The Russell family, new to the area at the time, were living in a cottage on a private estate. Josie Russell, now 39, has recovered from her injuries and pursued a career as a textile artist. The 30th anniversary of the murders on July 9 has undoubtedly brought back painful memories for the family and the community.