Police today launched a murder investigation after a family of four and their pet dog were found dead at their home in a picturesque West Sussex village.
The killing toll during the coronavirus lockdown is now at nine, with the bodies of two adults and two children discovered in Woodmancote on Sunday evening.
Sussex Police went to the home at 6.45pm on Sunday after receiving a call raising a welfare concern for the residents. All of them were pronounced dead at the scene.
All of the victims are believed to be from the same family, and it is currently being treated as a murder probe, but police are not seeking anyone else in connection.
The murders were the latest in a string of cases at the weekend at the end of Britain’s first week on lockdown, after concerns raised when the measures were imposed last Monday of an increase in domestic violence and mental health issues.
The other cases saw:
- Former Asda worker Ruth Williams found unconscious at home in Cwmbran, South Wales, at 7am on Saturday before dying in hospital – and her husband Tony Williams later charged with murder;
- NHS nurse and mother-of-three Victoria Woodhall, who worked at Rotherham General Hospital, killed in the street in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, at 5pm on Sunday – and her husband Craig Woodhall also later charged with murder;
- Police investigating after the ‘suspicious’ deaths of Gary Walker, 57, his wife Caroline, 50, and their daughter Katie, 24, who were found dead after a fire tore through their home in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, on Sunday evening.
A blue police evidence tent sits in front of a house this morning in Woodmancote, West Sussex
Police tape surrounds the garden of a house in the village of Woodmancote this morning
A police car at the house in Woodmancote today where the bodies of four people were found
Police tape surrounds the garden of the house in the village of Woodmancote this morning
In West Sussex, Chief Superintendent Jerry Westerman said: ‘This is believed to be an isolated incident contained to one property and in these early stages of the investigation we are not seeking anyone else in connection with the incident.’
Locals were warned of a heightened police presence, and anyone with information was told contact Sussex Police on 101 quoting Operation Cotton.
It is one of a string of murder investigations now under way after multiple domestic killings during the lockdown, with a total of nine people killed in four incidents.
In South Wales, a husband appeared in court yesterday accused of strangling his wife of 44 years at their semi-detached home.
Mother-of-three Victoria Woodhall, 31, was stabbed multiple times on Sunday evening outside her home in the village of Middlecliffe, near Barnsley in South Yorkshire
NHS nurse Mrs Woodhall, who worked at Rotherham General Hospital, was pronounced dead at the scene in South Yorkshire on Sunday evening
Forensic teams arrive to the scene of the murder yesterday after mother-of-three Mrs Woodhall was stabbed multiple times outside her home in Middlecliffe, near Barnsley
Tony Williams, 69, is charged with murdering his wife Ruth, 67, a former Asda worker, who was found ‘unconscious and unresponsive’ at the couple’s house.
Mrs Williams, from Cwmbran, died in hospital of suspected strangulation, a court heard.
Ben Williams, defending, said: ‘They were in a loving 44-year marriage – her death is a mystery.’
Williams, a retired construction worker, was remanded in custody and will appear at Cardiff Crown Court today.
Mrs Williams was found unconscious shortly before 7am on Saturday. It is understood she received her injuries hours earlier.
Anthony Williams (left), 69, is accused of killing wife Ruth (right), 67, at their semi-detached home in Cwmbran, South Wales, on Saturday, where they had been self isolating
Mrs Williams (pictured) was found ‘unconscious and unresponsive’ at the property in South Wales and died later in hospital of suspected head injuries
The couple had been self isolating at their home (file picture) in Cwmbran, South Wales
One neighbour described the couple as ‘devoted’ and said Mrs Williams was ‘always really nice and chatty’.
Meanwhile a married couple and their daughter were killed after a fire tore through their home in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, on Sunday evening.
Firefighters smashed the front door down after smoke was spotted pouring out of a window at the end-of-terrace house where draughtsman Gary Walker, 57, his wife Caroline, 50, and their 24-year-old daughter Katie lived.
All three members of the family were pronounced dead at the scene in Hemel Hempstead.
Police are understood to be considering theories – including one family member killing the other two before setting fire to the £400,000 four-bedroom property.
Neighbour Peter Downer, 67, who raised the alarm, speculated there could have been a trigger caused by the lockdown.
Detectives are investigating the deaths of a father, his wife and their daughter at a house in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire – which is pictured yesterday
Police outside the property in Hemel Hempstead yesterday after the house fire on Sunday
Police cars and a blue ten outside the property in the Hertfordshire town this morning
Mr Downer said: ‘What happened is not sort of in character for them. I reckon something has gone wrong. I don’t think it was accidental.
‘They were such a nice family, it is unbelievable. The coronavirus pandemic could have sparked anxieties in them, you just don’t know.
‘If people have mortgages and you don’t know how secure your job is, you are going to be worried.’
Mr Walker and his wife had lived at the property for around 30 years. The couple also had a son, Christopher, 28, and another daughter, Sarah, 26.
Detective Iain MacPherson, of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire major crime unit, said the deaths were ‘suspicious’ but that they were not seeking anyone else in connection to the incident.
Meanwhile in South Yorkshire, a 40-year-old husband has been charged with murdering his healthcare worker wife who was stabbed to death.
Mother-of-three Victoria Woodhall, who worked at Rotherham General Hospital, was attacked in Windsor Crescent in the Middlecliffe area of Barnsley just before 5pm on Sunday.
Today, South Yorkshire Police said Craig Woodhall, of Barnsley, has been charged with murder and remanded in custody.
He will appear at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court this morning.
In a statement, the force said: ‘Upon police arrival, a 31-year-old woman was sadly pronounced dead.
‘A post-mortem carried out on Monday March 30 concluded that the woman’s cause of death was multiple stab wounds.
‘While formal identification is yet to take place, the woman’s family is receiving support from specially trained officers.
‘The public are asked to be mindful of comments posted on social media and to respect the family’s privacy at this difficult time.’
Tributes have been paid Mrs Woodhall and a GoFundMe page has been set up by her friends, Donna Wetherall and Kelly Sims, to raise money towards funeral costs and to help her children.
Ms Wetherall and Ms Sims said Mrs Woodhall was an operating department practitioner, who was ‘always helping others’ and ‘lived for her children’.
They said: ‘Victoria worked really hard at university, qualifying to become an ODP at the Rotherham General Hospital.
‘She will be deeply missed by friends, family and her children.
‘She was lovely and caring, always helping others, lived for her children, and sadly she was taken away at a young age of 31.’
The page raised nearly £4,000 in 24 hours and the pair who set it up said: ‘Thank you to all that donated, we are overwhelmed by the response. Vicky would truly be amazed.’
At the scene of Mrs Woodhall’s death, white-suited forensic officers wearing face masks could be seen at a property in the street.
A card on a floral tribute attached to the fence outside read: ‘Taken from us. Always in our hearts and thoughts. A loving mummy, daughter and sister. xxxxx.’