Family murders: Man's body found on cliffs

Updated

Police investigating the murders of a woman and her two children have discovered the body of their suspected killer.

The mother, named locally as store manager Geraldine Newman, and her daughter, Shannon, 11, and son Shane, 6, were discovered at their home near Leeds on Tuesday morning.

The body found in North Wales is believed to be that of Ms Newman's estranged partner, who has been named in reports as Paul Newman, 42.

West Yorkshire Police said on Tuesday night that the body of the man, who they have not named, was found at 5pm near cliffs at South Stack, an island off Anglesey.

The beauty spot, which is popular with walkers and bird watchers, is around 160 miles away from Allerton Bywater where the bodies were found.

Detective Chief Inspector Warren Stevenson, of West Yorkshire Police 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."

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.

The bodies of her daughter and son were found upstairs, although police are yet to formally identify the victims.

Mr 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."

According to reports, colleagues of Ms Newman raised the alarm and a note was later found at an address linked to Mr Newman.

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".

The retailer added: "This is tragic news and has devastated everyone who worked with Geraldine as well as impacting team members across the company.

"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."

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.

Advertisement