Sharon Carr entered the world on December 21, 1979, in Belize, then a British colony nestled along Central America’s coastline. Raised by her mother, Molly, alongside three siblings with different fathers, Sharon faced an uncertain start in life, not knowing the identity of her own biological father.
In the early 1980s, Molly met George Carr, a Jamaican soldier stationed in Belize with the British Army. Their whirlwind romance led to marriage, but their union was far from idyllic. The family’s life was marred by extreme poverty, often leaving them without basic necessities. The home environment was equally unstable, rife with abuse and constant conflict. George’s heavy drinking fueled violent outbursts, often targeting Molly and the children, while Molly herself displayed aggression, venting her frustrations through severe physical punishment. Sharon Carr later revealed harrowing details of her mother burning her and administering brutal beatings.
Relocation to England and Rising Tensions
Seeking better opportunities, the Carr family moved to Camberley, Surrey, in 1986, settling into a public housing complex. Sharon Carr enrolled in the local primary school, where teachers initially found her polite and cooperative. However, her behavior quickly deteriorated as she connected with older peers who introduced her to a life of theft, drug use, and dealing.
By the time Sharon reached secondary school, her home life had unraveled further. After a particularly violent altercation, during which Molly poured boiling oil on George during an argument, the family fractured completely. Molly was charged with assault, underwent court-ordered therapy, and divorced George. Despite the chaos, Sharon Carr defended her mother’s actions, displaying a chilling detachment from the violence around her.
A Deepening Darkness
In her early teens, Sharon’s conduct worsened. Authorities intervened in 1990, placing her in foster care after she became unmanageable. When she returned home, Molly had begun a relationship with a new partner, bringing further instability into their household. For a brief period, Sharon Carr appeared to find stability through school activities like basketball. However, beneath the surface, her turbulent childhood continued to shape her personality.
Molly’s influence extended into Sharon’s beliefs and actions. Claiming supernatural powers, Molly involved Sharon in voodoo rituals that included animal sacrifices. Sharon began leveraging these practices to manipulate those around her, using threats and incantations to instill fear. Her fascination with the macabre escalated, leading her to commit increasingly cruel acts.
Sharon’s violent tendencies grew more alarming over time. She tortured animals, reportedly enjoying the pain she inflicted. Court records later revealed her chilling confessions—torturing cats, splitting a dog in half with a shovel, and throwing live hamsters into boiling oil. Tragically, these acts went unnoticed by the adults around her, allowing her behavior to escalate unchecked.
A Nightmare Unfolds
On June 6, 1992, Sharon Carr, then 12 years old, spent the evening with friends, driving around Camberley. By the early hours of June 7, they encountered 18-year-old Katie Rackliff, a hairdresser with dreams of opening her own salon. Katie, heartbroken from a recent breakup, had reluctantly gone out with friends in an attempt to lift her spirits. After an emotional encounter with her ex-boyfriend at a club, Katie decided to leave on her own, declining offers of a taxi or an escort home.
Walking alone along the quiet streets, Katie crossed paths with Sharon’s group. The young Sharon’s appearance likely reassured Katie, who accepted their offer of a ride. Tragically, this decision marked the beginning of her nightmare.
In the early morning of June 7, 1992, a group of children stumbled upon a devastating scene near a cemetery wall—the lifeless body of Katie Rackliff. Her body, found naked with multiple stab wounds, bore injuries to her genital area. While there was no immediate evidence of sexual assault, an autopsy was awaited for confirmation.
Katie’s parents, consumed by grief, were called to identify her at the local morgue. The brutality of the crime led investigators to suspect it was a sexually motivated attack, likely carried out by an adult male. Profilers described the suspect as someone in their 20s or 30s. Despite extensive efforts, which included questioning over 500 men, no promising leads emerged. Katie’s ex-boyfriend expressed deep remorse, lamenting that her fate might have been different if he had walked her home that night.
The forensic examination revealed approximately 30 stab wounds, inflicted with a 15-centimeter blade, targeting her ribs, heart, and genital area. Adding to the mystery, some of her jewelry and personal belongings were missing. Katie’s body was discovered far from where she was last seen in Camberley, leaving authorities puzzled. With no witnesses or significant evidence, the case went cold—until a violent incident two years later revealed the truth.
The Attack on Anne Marie Clifford
On June 7, 1994, two years to the day after Katie’s murder, another shocking act of violence occurred. Anne Marie Clifford, a 13-year-old student at Collingwood School in Surrey, was viciously attacked in the school bathroom. Her assailant was Sharon Carr, then just 14 years old. Armed with a sharp object, Sharon stabbed Anne Marie multiple times, puncturing her lung and leaving her in critical condition.
The assault ended only when five other students entered the bathroom and interrupted Sharon Carr’s frenzied attack. Anne Marie survived, but her ordeal would lead to startling revelations about Sharon’s dark past.
During questioning, Sharon Carr admitted to a history of violent behavior, including torturing animals and killing a neighbor’s dog with a shovel. Authorities, alarmed by her confessions, ordered a psychological evaluation. While under observation in a mental health facility, Sharon’s aggression continued—she attempted to strangle two staff members, further confirming her deeply troubling behavior.
In December 1994, Sharon Carr was convicted of assaulting Anne Marie and sentenced to two years in detention. Her behavior remained erratic and dangerous, leading to her transfer between various secure facilities. This included a stint at the male section of a Secure Center in Durham and, later, Bullwood Hall, a facility for young offenders, where staff were specially trained to manage violent individuals.
The Truth About Katie Rackliff
While at Bullwood Hall, Sharon began speaking openly about her involvement in Katie Rackliff’s murder, boasting to fellow inmates and sharing chilling details. She kept journals in her cell, meticulously documenting the crime. In January 1996, she confessed to a prison guard she trusted, admitting her role in Katie’s death. This confession, coupled with her written accounts, provided the long-awaited breakthrough in the case.
Sharon’s journals, confiscated by police, painted a gruesome picture of the events leading to Katie’s death. In her entries, Sharon Carr described the pleasure she felt during the attack, recounting how she plunged a blade into Katie’s chest and watched as her victim struggled to breathe. She admitted that her actions were driven by a compulsion she couldn’t control, stripping Katie of peace, safety, and dignity.
The journals included sketches of the murder weapon and detailed accounts of Katie’s final moments. Sharon Carr revealed that she initially had no intention of harming Katie but was overtaken by violent urges. Her writings also unveiled sexual undertones to the crime, shedding light on the injuries to Katie’s genital area. Sharon described how Katie’s screams gave her a twisted sense of excitement.
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“The Devil’s Daughter”
Sharon’s writings exposed her disturbed psyche further. In one passage, she claimed to see the devil in her dreams and her reflection, later realizing it was a projection of her own identity. These chilling revelations led the media to label her “The Devil’s Daughter.”
One particularly disturbing entry read: “Taking lives is my business, and business is good.” This chilling declaration revealed her lack of remorse and her perception of herself as a criminal.
During a 20-hour interrogation, Sharon Carr gave conflicting accounts of the events but consistently admitted to stabbing Katie. She claimed two friends were with her during the attack and alleged they had been involved in intimate relations with Katie before disposing of her body. However, these individuals were cleared after providing solid alibis.
Even as Sharon Carr faced trial, questions surrounded her ability to commit such a brutal crime at the age of 12. Prosecutors struggled to explain how a young girl could have physically dragged Katie Rackliff, who weighed 90 pounds, to the location where her body was found. However, her detailed confessions and the incriminating evidence in her journals led to her being charged with murder.
In early 1997, Sharon’s trial began at Winchester Crown Court. Over the course of four weeks, the prosecution built its case around her chilling writings and confessions. At 17 years old, Sharon was found guilty of murder, making her the youngest person in Britain to be convicted of the crime. Comparisons were drawn to Mary Bell, who had been convicted at age 11 of manslaughter in the deaths of two children in 1968. However, Sharon’s murder conviction stood out due to the brutality of her actions.
Her demeanor during the trial shocked those in attendance. As the guilty verdict was announced, Sharon Carr smirked and maintained the same mocking smile as she was led from the courtroom to await sentencing.
Sentencing and Diagnosis
On March 25, 1997, Sharon Carr was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 14 years before being eligible for parole. The presiding judge described her as “an extremely dangerous individual” whose violent tendencies warranted indefinite confinement.
In June 1998, Sharon Carr was transferred to a psychiatric hospital under the Mental Health Act. She was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, which contributed to her erratic and violent behavior. Over time, she was moved between facilities, including a secure hospital in London, after the previous institution transitioned to men-only care.
In 1999, Sharon’s lawyers sought to reduce her minimum sentence to 12 years, but the request was denied. The original 14-year minimum sentence remained in place, reflecting the severity of her crime.
A Twisted Romance
While institutionalized at Broadmoor Psychiatric Hospital, Sharon Carr met Robert Lane, another inmate convicted of murdering his mother in a horrific attack. The two began a supervised relationship, with visits limited to one hour and monitored closely. By 2001, the couple announced their engagement, planning to marry in the hospital chapel in a ceremony attended by other inmates.
However, the engagement was abruptly called off. After reading a detailed press article recounting each other’s crimes, Sharon Carr and Robert were reportedly horrified by the violent details. Robert had killed his mother at the age of 17, stabbing her 29 times and gouging out her eyes in a fit of rage over perceived favoritism toward his sister. The couple’s shock and disgust at each other’s actions led to the immediate end of their relationship.
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Challenges to Her Sentence
Sharon’s minimum sentence was reviewed multiple times, but the original term was upheld. In October 2003, a judge reconsidered and recommended reducing her sentence to 12 years, a decision that sparked outrage from Katie Rackliff’s family. Katie’s father, Joseph Rackliff, expressed his anguish publicly, stating that Sharon should never be released and posed a danger to society.
Over the years, Sharon’s appeals faced strong opposition—not only from Katie’s family but also from investigators and psychiatric experts who continued to assess her as a significant threat. In 2004, her lawyers argued for a manslaughter conviction based on diminished responsibility, but the motion was denied.
Throughout her incarceration, Sharon’s behavior remained volatile. In 2007, she was moved to the Orchard Unit, a medium-security facility. However, in 2015, she was transferred to a high-security women’s prison near Ashford, Surrey, after being deemed a risk to both staff and fellow inmates. Reports cited her unmanageable condition and lack of progress with treatment.
In 2018, Sharon Carr was briefly relocated to a less secure prison, but a violent altercation in August 2019 prompted her return to maximum security. Supervisors reported her paranoid tendencies and continued violent outbursts, which included plans to harm another inmate. In one instance, she allegedly intended to strike an inmate with a jar and push her down a staircase.
In March 2020, Sharon requested another review of her restricted prisoner status, hoping for leniency. Her petition was denied after the court determined she remained a danger to both inmates and the public. The presiding judge highlighted her ongoing violent thoughts and lack of remorse, solidifying the decision to keep her incarcerated indefinitely.
A Life Sentence Under Review
In September 2022, it was announced that Sharon Carr’s case would once again be reviewed by a parole board. At the time, Sharon Carr was 42 years old and had already served the minimum 14 years of her life sentence. However, the nature of her sentence did not guarantee release, as life imprisonment allows for continued confinement based on perceived danger to society. During the review, Sharon sought either full release or a transfer to an open prison, where restrictions are significantly reduced.
The parole hearing took place in October 2022, but no public records of its outcome were disclosed. Sharon Carr remained in a maximum-security facility, with no indication that her circumstances had changed.
In August 2023, Sharon’s case once again made headlines as reports surfaced that she might be considered for release after 31 years since the murder of Katie Rackliff. Dubbed “The Devil’s Daughter”, Sharon remained one of Britain’s most notorious prisoners. However, after rigorous evaluation, her parole request was denied. Experts argued that Sharon continued to pose a significant threat to society, citing her history of violence and psychological instability.
Judicial records revealed that, since her arrest, Sharon had spent only eight years in traditional prison settings. The majority of her time had been served in specialized secure environments, reflecting the difficulty in managing her behavior. While her records noted some progress—such as participation in educational programs, mentoring other inmates, and engaging in work activities—evaluators emphasized that her core risk factors had not changed.
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Behavioral Concerns
Experts highlighted Sharon’s tendency to form intense emotional attachments and her disproportionate reactions to rejection. These behaviors were flagged as potential triggers for future violence. Despite improvements in certain areas, the psychological evaluations concluded that Sharon’s underlying personality traits remained a danger to others.
As of November 2024, Sharon Carr, now 45 years old, remains incarcerated at Bronzefield Prison in Ashford, with no scheduled date for her next case review. Her continued imprisonment underscores the severity of her crime and the ongoing concerns about her potential for rehabilitation.
More than three decades after the brutal murder of Katie Rackliff, Sharon Carr’s case continues to stand out as one of the most unusual examples of female criminality in British history. Criminologists often note how rare it is for women to kill strangers. Sharon’s actions—murdering an 18-year-old woman at the age of 12—are particularly unique. Additionally, female offenders typically use minimal force necessary to achieve their objective. The multiple stab wounds and the injuries inflicted on Katie’s genital area were described as exceptionally depraved and far more characteristic of male perpetrators.
Sharon’s actions left an indelible mark on British society. For Katie’s family, the trauma and pain remain as raw as ever. Her father, Joseph Rackliff, has consistently opposed Sharon’s release, arguing that she should remain behind bars indefinitely to protect others. Sharon Carr’s case also continues to provoke debate among experts and the public. Some argue that her violent and abusive upbringing played a significant role in shaping her actions, while others see her behavior as indicative of an inherent predisposition toward violence.
