Police have launched an international manhunt for a suspect believed to have murdered a mother and her two children in their £1.2m home in Great Denham, Bedfordshire, before fleeing the country.
Officers forced entry into the property on Carnoustie Drive on Monday after the family had not been seen for “several days”, Bedfordshire Police said. Inside, they found the bodies of the woman and her two children. Assistant Chief Constable John Murphy described it as “a deeply distressing incident in which a mother and her two children are believed to have been murdered”.
“Police hunt suspect who fled UK after mother and two children found dead in Bedfordshire home”
“We have identified a suspect who was known to all three victims, and who we believe has since left the country,” Murphy said. He added that there was “nothing to suggest there is any wider risk to the public”, but patrols would be increased in the area to support the investigation and reassure residents.
Tributes have been left at the scene, with bunches of flowers placed on a hedge outside the cordoned-off house. One tearful woman said: “We’re really sorry to lose her. She was such a gracious mother.”
Local residents spoke of their shock. Jess Roland, who walks past the house nearly every day, said: “My husband shared it with me yesterday when I was at work and it completely took me aback. I actually almost wanted to fact check it to see if it was true because it just doesn’t seem like something that would happen here – but obviously it could happen to anybody.” Her husband Tim described it as “just incredibly shocking and just really sad”.
Brian Cheyne, another resident, said: “It’s absolutely shocking, especially the two young children. It’s been about three or four days before it was found out – absolutely horrific. It’s a nice area, a quiet area. My wife and some of the people around here are just very much surprised.”
Laura Watson-Smith described Great Denham as a quiet and friendly village. “Everyone’s very shocked and it’s incredibly sad and scary to hear that something like that has happened in the village,” she said.
Major crime units from Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Constabularies are leading the investigation. Formal identification of the victims has not yet taken place. Police have asked anyone with information, or who saw suspicious activity in the area on Friday or Saturday, to contact them quoting Operation Snowdrift.
Murphy urged the public to “be mindful of the privacy of the victims and avoid speculating about what might have happened”. The investigation is in its early stages, but the priority remains locating the suspect believed to have left the UK.
