A murder investigation has been launched after a mother and her two children were found dead at a property near Bedford, with police saying the suspect is believed to have fled the country.
Officers forced entry into an address on Carnoustie Drive in Great Denham on Monday after the family had not been seen for several days, Bedfordshire Police said. Inside, they discovered the bodies of a woman and two children.
“Murder investigation launched after mother and two children found dead near Bedford; suspect believed to have fled UK.”
Assistant Chief Constable John Murphy said: “This is a deeply distressing incident in which a mother and her two children are believed to have been murdered.” He added that a suspect had been identified who was known to all three victims, “and who we believe has since left the country”.
Police said there was nothing to suggest any wider risk to the public, but they would be increasing patrols and the number of uniformed officers in the area. Murphy urged the public to avoid speculation and to be mindful of the privacy of the victims.
Neighbours described the family as quiet and said the parents were believed to be from Zimbabwe originally, having moved to the area about two years ago. One resident, Vicky, said they appeared “wealthy” and “seemed pleasant”.
On Tuesday evening, five mourners laid flowers at the home. One tearful woman said: “We’re really sorry to lose her, she was such a gracious mother.”
The formal identification of the victims has not yet been completed, and the force has not released the identities of the deceased or the suspect. Police have appealed for anyone with information about suspicious activity in Carnoustie Drive, particularly on Friday and Saturday, to come forward.
Murphy described the case as “the early stages of what is an incredibly complex investigation” and said all necessary resources were being committed to establish what happened and to find the person responsible. The suspect is believed to have left the UK, and efforts to bring them back are ongoing.