The disappearance of Julie Buckley shook the quiet Cambridgeshire village of Christchurch earlier this year.
Now, the mystery has taken a grim turn.
Her neighbour, Karl Hutchings, has admitted to killing her—even though her body has never been found.
At 48 years old, Hutchings stood in Cambridge Crown Court and changed his plea to guilty, finally admitting responsibility for the murder of the 55-year-old woman who lived close by.
From Concern to Horror
The alarm was first raised back in February when fears grew for Julie’s safety.
Police entered her home on February 13 and found blood splattered inside her bungalow.
Forensic testing later confirmed the blood belonged to Julie.
It was soon discovered that the last confirmed sighting of her was on January 28, when CCTV captured her doing a small shop at Budgens supermarket in March, a nearby village.
The Timeline of the Crime
Detectives believe Hutchings killed Julie just two days later, on January 30.
Afterward, he is said to have used her bank cards and even sold some of her belongings.
By February 16, Hutchings was charged with her murder, accused of killing her sometime between January 20 and January 31.
Initially, he denied the charge when he appeared in court via video link in March. But this week, that denial ended with his guilty plea.
He will be sentenced on October 24.
A Chilling Public Persona
What makes the case even more disturbing is Hutchings’ online presence.
In 2019, he posted a photo of himself wearing a mask eerily similar to the one worn by Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs.
Friends at the time dismissed it as a joke, even teasing him about whether it was a World Book Day costume.
Now, viewed in the context of his crime, the image feels far darker.
Police Determined to Find Julie
Despite his admission, Julie’s body has not been recovered.
Police have carried out extensive searches, including using dive teams in drainage channels around Christchurch, such as the Bedlam Bridge and Boots Bridge areas.
At one point, a fisherman discovered hair in the water, but tests later confirmed it was not Julie’s.
Detective Chief Inspector Richard Stott, who has led the case, says the sudden halt in Julie’s communications after January 28 was the first major red flag.
“I am pleased Hutchings has finally decided to take responsibility for what he has done,” he said.
“While it won’t take away the pain Julie’s family is suffering, it will hopefully ease the process for them.
I also hope he will now tell us where he left her body, so she can be laid to rest with dignity.”
Ongoing Investigations
The case has pulled in others as well. A 49-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman from Christchurch were arrested earlier this year on suspicion of assisting an offender. Both remain under investigation.
Meanwhile, police continue to appeal to the public for information, especially anyone who may have dashcam footage from the March and Christchurch areas between January 29 and January 30.
Remembering Julie
The last image of Julie that remains publicly known is from that Budgens CCTV footage.
She is seen casually shopping, wearing a light top and beanie hat, as the cashier asked if she wanted a bag.
It was such an ordinary moment, but tragically, it may have been her last.