New developments have emerged in the long-running investigation into the 1996 Russell family murders in Kent, focusing on a new potential suspect, Raymond Buck. Buck, a former amateur boxing coach from Folkestone, has come under renewed scrutiny following fresh testimony submitted to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).

The Russell murders involved the deaths of academics Shaun and Lin Russell and their two young daughters at their countryside home. Michael Stone was convicted for the attacks, but questions about the safety of his conviction have persisted, notably after some original witness statements used at trial have been discredited.

One new account comes from Ross Shields, who was nine years old at the time and related to Buck through family connections. Shields claims that on the day of the murders, he overheard Buck confessing to his aunt Tracy Shields, saying: “I’ve done something unforgivable. I’ve killed three people.” Shields recalls the incident occurred at his aunt’s home on the outskirts of Folkestone, and describes Buck as agitated, leaving abruptly afterwards.

Shields has provided a detailed seven-page statement to the CCRC and maintains his account despite scepticism and attempts to discredit his testimony. He revealed that Buck had developed an interest in the occult and satanism, noting a tattoo Buck bore featuring a goat’s head and the phrase “The Buck Avenger,” symbols often linked to occult imagery. Shields first came forward after watching a documentary on the case in 2017 and later reported his memories to police, who reportedly questioned Buck but did not advance him as a suspect.

Tracy Shields, Buck’s sister, has publicly denied that any confession took place and describes her nephew Ross as troubled. The family disputes several aspects of Shields’s claims. Buck’s son Thomas issued a statement emphasizing inconsistencies in the new allegations, including Buck’s whereabouts on the day of the murders—asserting his father was with relatives in Elham, near the crime scene, and driving a different vehicle than one reported associated with the killer. The family also contests the timing of Buck’s tattoo, stating it was acquired well after the murders.

Raymond Buck has a complex history. Born in Folkestone, he lived in various parts of Kent during his life and had a background in coaching boys’ boxing. In 1997, he appeared in court following a separate incident involving a bomb hoax and possession of a small lock-knife, resulting in community service.

Michael Stone’s legal team has welcomed the new testimonies as warranting further investigation, while stressing they do not alone prove Buck’s involvement. Stone’s solicitor Karen Todner indicated that modern forensic advancements could provide clarity. Evidence from the initial crime scene is undergoing fresh DNA analysis using current technology capable of separating mixed genetic material, similar to methods that recently led to the exoneration of another wrongly convicted person.

Samples have been collected from Stone at HMP Frankland, and Buck’s son Thomas has expressed hope that DNA analysis on his father could help resolve lingering doubts about the case.

The CCRC is reviewing all new evidence as part of an ongoing effort to reassess Stone’s conviction, with the results of forensic testing expected later this year. Investigators continue to explore all leads in a case that remains one of Kent’s most notorious unsolved mysteries.