Josie Russell was just nine years old when she was attacked alongside her mother Lin and six-year-old sister Megan in Chillenden, Kent
The Chillenden Murders, a chilling documentary that delves into the brutal murders of Lin and Megan Russell, has resurfaced on Netflix after its initial broadcast on Channel 5 two years ago. But what happened to Josie Russell, the nine-year-old who miraculously survived the horrific attack?
The one-off special revisits the dreadful events of July 1996 when Lin Russell, 45, and her daughters Josie, nine, and Megan, six, were ambushed on a country lane in Chillenden, Kent.
They were returning from a local school swimming gala when they were accosted by a man who tied them up and savagely bludgeoned them with a hammer.
The attacker, later identified as Michael Stone by the police, brutally killed Lin, Megan and their family dog Lucy. Remarkably, Josie Russell survived the onslaught.
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Where is Josie Russell now?
Josie didn’t emerge unscathed from the attack; she sustained serious head injuries that necessitated extensive surgery, including the fitting of a titanium plate to replace part of her skull.
Her speech and memory functions were significantly affected, but over time, she made a full recovery, reports the Mirror.
After the incident, Josie and her father Shaun Russell moved back to Gwynedd, where they had lived as a family before relocating to Kent.
Josie subsequently obtained a degree in design and textiles from Bangor University and has flourished as an artist, taking inspiration from Welsh landscapes. Her artwork is available for purchase online and at various exhibitions.
In 2012, Josie used funds from her trust and compensation received from the Criminal Injuries Board to repurchase her family’s previous residence in Snowdonia, a property brimming with treasured memories.
The Standard quoted Josie as saying: “It just feels right here. I’m going home and I’ll never leave.”
Josie lives with her fiancé, Iwan Griffith, with whom she marked their 20th anniversary this week, having initially encountered each other at a pub on New Year’s Eve 2005.
Previously speaking on ITV’s Lorraine, Josie remarked: “I’ve just got to get on with life and just carry on. I love my job, it’s all fine. Happy.”
The Chillenden Murders: Who Killed Lin and Megan? is currently available on Netflix.
