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Suspect's body found in Anglesey murder of woman, daughter and son Suspect in murder of woman and two children is found dead
(about 1 hour later)
Police investigating the murders of a woman and her two children say they have discovered the body of their suspected killer. Police investigating the murders of a woman and her two children in West Yorkshire have discovered the body of their suspected killer in north Wales.
The mother, named locally as store manager Geraldine Newman, and her daughter and son were discovered at their home near Leeds on Tuesday morning. A murder investigation was launched after Geraldine Newman, 51 was found dead with her son and daughter by a concerned friend. Police investigating the murders said on Tuesday that they had discovered the body of the suspected killer on cliffs in South Stack in Anglesey.
DCI Warren Stevenson, of West Yorkshire police’s homicide and major enquiry team, said: “The man’s identity is yet to be confirmed, but we are liaising closely with our colleagues in North Wales police as we believe this may be linked to our investigation in Leeds.”
Related: Murder inquiry launched as bodies of woman and two children foundRelated: Murder inquiry launched as bodies of woman and two children found
West Yorkshire police said the body of the man, who they have not named, was found at 5pm on Tuesday at cliffs at South Stack, an island off Anglesey, off the north-west coast of Wales. The bodies were found at Newman’s house in Beeston Way, Allerton Bywater, near Leeds. Dozens of police officers and a forensic team surrounded the home just before noon on Tuesday.
The beauty spot, which is popular with walkers and bird watchers, is around 160 miles away from Allerton Bywater where the bodies were found. Supermarket store manager Newman, known as Gerry locally, lived in the house with her daughter Shannon, 12, and her son, believed to be about six years old.
Detective Chief Inspector Warren Stevenson of the West Yorkshire homicide team said: “The man’s identity is yet to be confirmed but we are liaising closely with our colleagues in North Wales police as we believe this may be linked to our investigation in Leeds.” It is understood Newman’s body was found by a friend who was concerned after she had not been in contact for a few days.
Police were called to the family’s home in Beeston Way in the village of Allerton Bywater shortly before noon and found Ms Newman’s body downstairs. At the scene, police vehicles surrounded a cordon which stretched across a row of modern, red brick terraced houses.
The bodies of her daughter, named locally as Shannon who was aged around 11, and her six-year-old son were found upstairs. Chloe Firth, who knew Shannon, said: “I used to play out with her and her brother. Her dad also used to play out with us and we would play hide and seek. She was a very happy and bubbly girl. Even though she went to a different school to me she was a really good friend of mine.
According to reports, colleagues of Ms Newman raised the alarm. “I didn’t really know her mum. She just spent most of her time inside. I think she was just making the house nice and tidy.”
Police have not formally named the victims. Chloe’s father, Sean, said: “The police knocked on the door this morning but didn’t tell me what had happened. You don’t expect to see this on your doorstep; it is devastating. I’m lost for words. I don’t know what to say about it.”
Stevenson said: “Post-mortem examinations are yet to take place to establish the causes of their deaths but the victims have died in suspicious circumstances and therefore we are treating their deaths as murder.” Wesley Rice, 38, who lives on the estate with his partner and two children said he met the family at Halloween when they called at the house while trick or treating.
The mother was a branch manager for Wilko where she had worked for 23 years and a spokesman said she was a “loyal and enormously respected member of the team”. He said: “We knocked on the door and the lady came out and gave the kids sweets. She seemed very nice.”
The retailer added: “This is tragic news and has devastated everyone who worked with Geraldine as well as impacting team members across the company. Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the budget store Wilko confirmed that Newman had worked for the company for 23 years as a “loyal and enormously respected member of the team”.
“Our heartfelt thoughts and condolences are with her family, friends and colleagues at this very difficult time and everything is being done to support those team members who are affected by this tragic news.” The spokesperson said: “This is tragic news and has devastated everyone who worked with Geraldine as well as impacting team members across the company.”
On her LinkedIn page she described her children as “the light of my world”.
Sean Firth, 44, and his 11-year-old daughter Chloe live across the road from the house.
In tears, Chloe described how she played outside in the estate with the girl.
She said: “I just feel really upset and really shocked. I never thought anything like this would really happen.”
She added: “They were really bubbly and nice and kind. She was just my friend.”
Mr Firth said he believed there had been some kind of domestic incident at the house around a year ago when the children’s father was taken away in a police car.
He added: “I only really knew them through passing in the street and playing in the park with my daughter.
“They were nice and friendly, as far as I can make out. My daughter was devastated when she came home from school.”
Anyone with any information, or anyone who witnessed anything in the area of the address leading up to the time the bodies were discovered is asked to contact the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team via 101.