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Mother and son stabbed to death at West Midlands home Mother and son stabbed to death at West Midlands home
(about 1 hour later)
A mother and her 13-year-old son have been stabbed to death at their home in Stourbridge, near Birmingham, police have said. A mother and her 13-year-old son have been stabbed to death at their home and the woman’s husband left badly wounded.
The woman’s husband was seriously injured in the attack on Thursday, West Midlands police said. Local residents named the victims as businessman Peter Wilkinson, 47, his wife, Tracey, 47, and their son, Pierce, describing them as a lovely family. Police have arrested a man in his 20s whom, it is believed, the family had taken in as an act of kindness.
Police said they were not in a position to confirm the identities but said that next of kin had been informed. Neighbours of the three, who lived in a large red-brick house in Stourbridge, West Midlands, named them as Tracey Wilkinson, her husband, Peter, and their son, Pierce.
The son, who was killed, is understood to have attended a local school, and the couple’s older daughter is believed to have been away at university. Peter Wilkinson runs Hill and Smith, a firm that manufactures safety barriers. The company declined to comment. The son attended a local school, Redhill, and the couple’s older daughter is a first-year student at Bristol University. Peter Wilkinson, 47, is a managing director of a company that manufactures safety barriers.
A man in his 20s, who is believed to have been known to the victims, was arrested in a nearby street on suspicion of murder and wounding. He was stopped driving a Land Rover stolen from outside the family’s house. A man in his 20s was arrested in a street close to the family home on suspicion of murder and wounding after a Land Rover allegedly stolen from outside the family’s house was involved in a crash.
Supt Lee Kendrick, of Dudley police, said: “What has unfolded here this morning is horrific and heartbreaking. Police and ambulance were confronted with an awful scene: a man, woman and boy all with very serious stab injuries. The woman and boy were found in the house and the man in the garden. Police said he was not a relative but was staying at the house. They gave no further details.
A neighbour said that the family had been helping the young man. She added: “They helped him as a friend.” A source close to the investigation confirmed this was the case.
Speaking outside the house, Supt Lee Kendrick, of West Midlands police, said: “What has unfolded here is horrific and heartbreaking. Police and ambulance were confronted with an awful scene: a man, woman and boy all with very serious stab injuries. The woman and boy were found in the house and the man in the garden.
“Tragically, there was nothing that could be done to save the woman – and her son later died in hospital from his injuries,” he said.“Tragically, there was nothing that could be done to save the woman – and her son later died in hospital from his injuries,” he said.
He said the suspect was not a relative but may have been living at the house. “We don’t think this was a burglary or a robbery.” Kendrick confirmed the suspect was known to the police, but said: “At this moment in time, it’s too early to look at and release the details as to any previous dealings he has had with West Midlands police; however, he is known to the organisation.” He said he did not believe a burglary or a robbery had been committed.
One wellwisher who left flowers said she believed Wilkinson helped the young man out. A neighbour of the victims described seeing two people being carried from the house on stretchers. The resident, who declined to give her name, said: “My husband was looking out of the window and he could see the ambulances and the helicopter. Then he went to walk to the doctor’s and saw the police car pursuing a car.”
Police and ambulance services were called to the property in the Norton area of Stourbridge just after 8am. The suspect was arrested about half an hour later in Norton Street. Another neighbour said she heard a man shouting in the Wilkinsons’ garden.
West Midlands fire service said it was called to make the vehicle safe after a police pursuit, which ended with smoke coming from the Land Rover Discovery after it crashed into a brick wall. Friends and neighbours left flowers outside the police cordon. One well-wisher who left flowers said she believed the Wilkinsons had helped the young man. A message on a bouquet read: “The most amazing family! So many memories that we will always treasure!”
Tracey Wilkinson was pronounced dead at the scene at the family home. Her son was taken to Birmingham children’s hospital but could not be saved. Pierce is understood to have attended a secondary school in Stourbridge. A schoolfriend of the teenager dropped off flowers with a note reading: “RIP Pierce. You will never be forgotten. We had so many memories.”
A spokeswoman for the school said: “We know there has been a serious incident in the Norton area. We believe the family involved had connections with the school. There are no further details available at the moment.” Police and ambulance services were called to the property in the Norton area of Stourbridge just after 8am. Soon after a Land Rover Discovery allegedly stolen from the Wilkinsons’ house crashed into a brick wall and a man was arrested.
Peter Wilkinson was taken to Queen Elizabeth hospital, Birmingham, where he is being treated for stab wounds to his chest and back. Police said he was in a serious but stable condition. Tracey Wilkinson was pronounced dead at the scene at the family home. Her son was taken to Birmingham children’s hospital but could not be saved. Peter Wilkinson was taken to Queen Elizabeth hospital, Birmingham, where he is being treated for stab wounds to his chest and back. Police said he was in a serious but stable condition.
A West Midlands ambulance spokesman said: “Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of ambulance staff, it became apparent at the scene that nothing could be done to save the woman.A West Midlands ambulance spokesman said: “Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of ambulance staff, it became apparent at the scene that nothing could be done to save the woman.
“The teenage boy was in cardiac arrest and received specialist trauma care and advanced life support. He was taken to Birmingham children’s hospital. “The teenage boy was in cardiac arrest and received specialist trauma care and advanced life support. He was taken to Birmingham children’s hospital. Sadly, shortly after arrival in A&E and despite the best efforts of ambulance staff and hospital medics, he was also confirmed dead.”
“Sadly, shortly after arrival in A&E and despite the best efforts of ambulance staff and hospital medics, he was also confirmed dead.” The Wilkinsons had lavished time and money restoring their large home. Tracey Wilkinson, understood to have been a talented amateur ballroom dancer, was keen to show her new kitchen to neighbours.
Police have said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident. They are trying to establish the relationship between the suspect and the family. Anyone with information is urged to contact West Midlands police on 101. Maggie Planes, who lives nearby, said the couple were security conscious, always shutting the iron gates of their house.
The attacks occurred at the Wilkinsons’ large, red-bricked home on which they had lavished time and money restoring. Tracey Wilkinson, understood to have been a talented amateur ballroom dancer, showed her new kitchen to neighbours. A couple living nearby told how they used to see Peter Wilkinson walking his greyhound along the street. A man, who did not want to be named, added: “Peter and Tracey have lived there for about seven or eight years. We know them to talk to and say hello to. They were a nice, normal family. They were lovely. We used to go to the same pub as them up the road and they were very friendly.”
Maggie Planes, who lives nearby, said the couple were security conscious, always shutting the iron gates of their house. She did not know of any lodger staying with the family. A spokesperson for Redhill school said: “Tragically, one of our year 8 pupils and his mother have died and his father is in hospital following an attack in the family home.
A couple living nearby told how they used to see Peter Wilkinson walking his greyhound along the street. A man, who did not want to be named, added: “Peter and Tracey have lived there for about seven or eight years. They’ve got a son who is 13 and a daughter who is in her first year at university. “Pupils and staff who need support will have access to psychological first aid provided by Dudley educational psychology service. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this.”
“We know them to talk to and say hello to. They were a nice, normal family. They were lovely. We used to go to the same pub as them up the road and they were very friendly.”