Guilty of double murder – but search for cruel killer’s second victim continues

A violent abuser who murdered two women – one of whom has still not been found – has been brought to justice.

Naomi Hunte, 41, and Fiona Holm, 48, were killed by Carl Cooper in February 2022 and June 2023. He had been under investigation for the first killing when he committed the second fatal offence, but was allowed bail as there was not enough evidence to convict.

Naomi was found fatally stabbed in her home, but detectives continue their search for Fiona’s body as Cooper has consistently refused to tell police where she is.

The investigation into the search for Fiona is ongoing, and there is a live £20,000 police reward for information which leads to her remains being found.

Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn, of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said:  “Carl Cooper is a dangerous, violent domestic abuser who preys on women with vulnerabilities.

“He took the lives of two vibrant, sociable women who were so very loved by their families and friends. Naomi and Fiona are in my thoughts today.”

Naomi, of Woolwich, was found with stab wounds at an address in Congleton Grove, Greenwich on the evening of Monday, February 14, 2022 when a neighbour noticed her front door was open and went inside to check on her. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post-mortem examination at Greenwich Mortuary gave cause of death as a stab wound.

Initial enquiries revealed that all signs of Naomi being alive stopped four days before she was found. Her mobile phone and her bank account were inactive from that evening.

Officers reviewed mobile phone data relating to Cooper and quickly identified that he was in the area of Naomi’s flat at the relevant times on February 9 and 10. This was supported by CCTV evidence that showed some of his movements that night.

He was arrested on February 18 on suspicion of murder. In interview he admitted that he was with Naomi on February 10, but claimed she had taken drugs and begun to act strangely, so he left.

On the evening of February 10, when Naomi was already dead, Cooper made a call to Naomi’s mobile phone – the call was not answered and he did not leave a message.

In June 2023, while Cooper remained under investigation for Naomi’s murder, Fiona Holm, from Blackheath, who Cooper was in a relationship with, was reported as a missing person – on June 29 last year.

When no sightings or digital activity could be found, coupled with her links to Cooper, the homicide team investigating Naomi’s murder took primacy for the investigation into Fiona’s disappearance on July 11.

It was immediately classified as a murder investigation and Cooper was arrested that same day on suspicion of Fiona’s murder. On July 13 he was charged with the murders of both Naomi and Fiona.

The last sighting of Fiona was at an off licence in Verdant Lane, Catford, at shortly before 11pm on Tuesday, June 20, and police have never found any further footage or images of her after this time.

The evidence for both cases was entirely circumstantial and the facts surrounding the deaths of each woman strengthened the overall case against Cooper.

DCI Blackburn said: “This has been a long and complex investigation and I would like to sincerely thank the families of Naomi and Fiona for their unwavering support throughout both investigations.

“They have sat through court and heard the most difficult of information about the deaths of women they deeply loved. I cannot begin to understand the pain they will experience forever.

“While I am relieved that he will be incarcerated in a place where he poses no threat to women, my greatest regret will always be that there wasn’t sufficient evidence to charge him earlier.

“I am pleased that the evidence presented allowed the jury to see the true nature of Carl Cooper, who had gone to great lengths to remove traces of Fiona’s blood from his flat. It was shocking for the court to discover her blood was on various items in his flat, including a wifi router, the television, living room walls, and on the curtains.

“The trial being over does not mean that our efforts to find Fiona will stop. Despite Cooper cruelly denying Fiona’s family the opportunity to bury her, my team and I are, and will remain, committed to finding Fiona and returning her to her family.

“We also will continue to investigate the possibility that Cooper had help to remove Fiona’s body, and will arrest and charge those I have sufficient evidence to do so.”

Cooper, 66, of Broadfield Road, Catford appeared at Woolwich Crown Court accused of the murders of Naomi Hunte and Fiona Holm.

On Friday, the jury found him guilty of both murders. He will be sentenced later this week at the same court.

Anyone who has information which could aid our search for Fiona, is asked to contact police or give information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Pictured top: Fiona Holm (left) and Naomi Hunte – victims of abusive Carl Cooper (Picture: The Met)