On July 9, 2024, a horrifying event took place in Bushey, Hertfordshire, England as three family members, Carol Hunt, aged 61, and her daughters, Hannah, 28, and Louise, 25, were discovered dead in their home.

The accused, 26-year-old Kyle Clifford, a former member of the British Army’s Queen’s Dragoon Guards, has been charged with the murders. Charges also include false imprisonment and possession of two lethal weapons: a 10-inch butcher’s knife and a crossbow.

Clifford, a native of Enfield, was found injured in a cemetery on July 10, 2024, the day following the attack. Hertfordshire police reported that initial questioning was deferred due to his medical condition.

After being captured, Clifford was formally charged and held in custody. He appeared remotely before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on September 17, 2024, where he was read the charges. He faces three murder charges for the deaths of Carol, Hannah, and Louise Hunt, along with additional charges for weapon possession and unlawful imprisonment of Louise Hunt, who was found tied to a chair upon police arrival.

District Judge Paul Goldspring informed Clifford during the proceedings that the murder and false imprisonment charges will be addressed only at the Crown Court. Due to the gravity of the charges, Clifford was denied bail and is scheduled to appear before the Central Criminal Court at the Royal Courts of Justice.

Court documents reveal that Clifford, who had previously been involved romantically with Louise Hunt, attacked the family using a crossbow and a knife. On the night of the attack, Hannah Hunt courageously contacted the police, stating that her mother and sister had been shot and she feared her life was in danger. However, the call was abruptly ended. Upon arrival, police discovered Louise tied up, and both sisters shot with a crossbow, while their mother Carol had been fatally stabbed with a butcher’s knife.

Detective Chief Inspector Nick Gardner expressed his condolences to the Hunt family, saying: “We have been working hard to gather as much evidence as possible and establish the full circumstances of what happened that day. We can now move forward with the judicial process and seek justice for their family.”

John Hunt, Carol’s husband and father to Hannah and Louise, is a well-known BBC racing commentator. He spoke about the indescribable pain he and his surviving daughter, Amy, are experiencing due to their loss.