The decades-old case of the Russell family murders has seen a new development with the emergence of Raymond Buck as a potential suspect. Two witnesses, including Buck's ex-wife, have submitted sworn statements to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), implicating Buck in the 1996 attack that killed Lin Russell and her six-year-old daughter Megan, and severely injured their older daughter, Josie.
Chillenden Murders
The brutal attack occurred in July 1996 when the family was ambushed while walking home from a swimming gala near Chillenden, Kent. All three were bound, blindfolded, and bludgeoned with a claw hammer. The family's dog, Lucy, was also attacked.
Michael Stone, a former heroin addict with prior convictions for violence, was convicted a year later and is currently serving three life sentences for the murders and attempted murder. Stone has consistently maintained his innocence.
New Evidence and Investigations
The new statements from witnesses were submitted to the CCRC, which is conducting a forensic investigation into Stone's conviction. One witness, Ross Shields, claims he overheard Buck confessing to his sister, saying, "I've done something unforgivable. I've killed three people."
Buck's ex-wife also provided a dossier to the CCRC, including a letter from Buck containing phrases like, "It is time to draw my sword. It is time for me to kill. It is not going to be pretty." She also reportedly supplied information about his psychiatric state and had previously reported him to Kent police at the time of the killings, though the force did not pursue it.
Raymond Buck died by suicide in May 2000 at the age of 46, jumping from cliffs at Beachy Head. His death occurred amidst a contentious divorce and a custody battle for his children.
Family and Defense Perspectives
Buck's son, Thomas, has volunteered to provide a DNA sample to the CCRC, stating, "I do not wish to live with 'maybe'. If credible evidence leads to my father being held responsible for the abhorrent crime or exonerating him and bringing some form of justice to his name, I want to be able to live with the answer." Thomas Buck has expressed doubts about the alleged confession, describing the letter to his mother as a "cryptic poem" and recalling fond memories of his father.
Michael Stone's legal team emphasized that the new testimonies do not prove Buck's guilt but identify him as a "credible person of interest" who should be part of the CCRC investigation. Modern DNA techniques are being used on evidence from the original crime scene, and a DNA sample has been taken from Stone. Results from these tests are anticipated by the end of the year.