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Police have confirmed that the bodies of a family of four, including two children, were discovered at a property in Costessey, near Norwich.
Norfolk Constabulary said officers forced their way into an address in Allan Bedford Crescent, Costessey, shortly before 7am on Friday morning following a call from a member of the public.
The remains of a 45-year-old man, a 36-year-old woman, and two young school-aged girls were discovered.
The Norfolk police reported that the four individuals were found with injuries. Post-mortem examinations will be conducted in the near future to determine the cause of death.
Three individuals from the same family resided at the location on a permanent basis, while a fourth person was present on a temporary basis.
According to the police, there was a man and two children residing at the location. However, the woman involved was only visiting and did not reside there. The next of kin have been notified and we are providing them with support.
Police responded to the same residence on December 14th of the previous year as part of an investigation for a missing individual. They will now review the details of that occurrence. It is anticipated that law enforcement will continue to be present at the location for a significant duration.
A tent, colored white, has been erected on the premises.
During a press conference this afternoon, authorities stated that they will not disclose the names of the deceased at this time and that official identification has not yet been completed.
Detective Chief Inspector Chris Burgess of the Major Investigation Team in Norfolk and Suffolk stated that a weapon was found in the nearby woods, but it is currently not thought to be connected to the deaths.
He emphasized to the community the importance of being cautious about what we post on social media without verified information.
Our intention is not to cause unnecessary worry or provide incorrect information that could hinder the investigation instead of aiding it.
There is a police barrier established at the housing estate.
An inquiry is currently in progress regarding the “upsetting and unfortunate occurrence” that resulted in their fatalities.
The police have set up a barrier and are investigating with the help of the Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team. Forensic tests are currently being conducted. Investigators were at the location this afternoon.
According to a neighbor interviewed by the BBC, she was familiar with the family as their children attended the same school.
“I would occasionally run into them while out on the street because our children attend the same school. We would exchange greetings either at school or on the street.”
The occurrence happened on Allan Bedford Crescent in Costessy, which is located just outside of Norwich.
The police suspect that this is a singular event and Detective Burgess stated, “Our inquiry is just beginning and this is undoubtedly a distressing and unfortunate occurrence.”
“Although we are investigating multiple leads, we currently believe this is an isolated occurrence.”
I am aware that the announcement of this event will come as a surprise to the nearby residents and we will share additional details as soon as possible.
A plain and uniformed police presence was established at the site, as reported by the BBC. The only emergency services permitted within the cordon were multiple officers. Residents within the area were not allowed to leave their homes, but daily routines seemed to have resumed in the afternoon as people returned from work and school.
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An ongoing investigation has revealed individuals in white suits entering and exiting the residence.
Daniel Sealey, a resident of the same neighborhood approximately 200-300 yards away, expressed his shock and disbelief upon learning about the deaths.
“It’s a quiet estate, things don’t happen around here like this,” he said, sharing that he had heard of the news on social media.
“I observed the police and ambulance arriving this morning and assumed that there was a serious situation occurring, given the number of officers present,” said Jane Scrafton, a nearby resident, in an interview with ITV News Anglia.
The police had cordoned off the area, forcing residents to stay inside their homes.
Gary Blundell, a council member for the Liberal Democratic Party, represents the area of New Costessey at the South Norfolk District Council. He stated that the community and individuals will receive necessary assistance.
He comforted residents by stating that there was “no risk to the general public,” and expressed that the community was shocked by the event.
He expressed to Eastern Daily Press: “This is extremely alarming – My sympathy is with all those affected by this.”
The people living in Queen’s Hill are in shock – we must provide assistance to anyone impacted.
Authorities are requesting information from individuals who were present in the vicinity of Allan Bedford Crescent earlier today and may have witnessed or heard anything relevant to our investigation.
Please contact us using the provided channels if you have any information. Please reference crime reference NC-19012024-39.
Link: Visit https://www.norfolk.police.uk/tell-us to access the website.
Phone: 101
Report criminal activity without revealing your identity by reaching out to Crimestoppers, a non-profit organization, through their website (www.crimestoppers-uk.org) or by calling 0800 555 111.
The source is the Independent website.
