Newmarket deaths: Bodies of woman and young boy found in home

Updated

Detectives are continuing to investigate the deaths of a woman and a young boy found dead at a home on a quiet residential street.

The pair – who have not been identified – were discovered by a member of the public inside the two-storey property on Park Avenue in Newmarket, Suffolk, on Friday afternoon.

Neighbours said a woman in her early 30s and her son aged under 10 who was "always smiling" lived at the house but "kept themselves to themselves".

On Saturday, a police cordon remained outside the property, a semi-detached home on a narrow street of 30 properties, a short distance from the town centre, while a Volkswagen Golf hatchback parked on the pavement in front of the home was also behind police tape.

One neighbour, who lived opposite, said: "I came home last night about 8pm and there were feds (police) everywhere.

"They were here all night, I think, and forensics were going in and out."

He said he knew the woman by sight but had only spoken to her once.

"She, like everyone I suppose, kept herself to herself. I only spoke to her once to collect a parcel. She was probably early 30s.

"The boy seemed happy enough though. He was a youngster, maybe seven or eight. He was always smiling every time I saw him."

Another couple, who also live on Park Avenue, said they had seen the boy playing in the nearby park.

They said: "She was probably in her 30s, he was under 10. But they kept themselves to themselves.

"There are a lot of rented houses on this street so a lot of people come and go."

An elderly resident said there were only a handful of home owners on the street, and that the majority were rental properties.

Bodies found at house in Newmarket
Bodies found at house in Newmarket

She said: "I've been here for 60 years and it's quite a quiet street.

"Very sad though, isn't it. Tragic.

"There are so many new people moving in and out of here. I daresay I knew her by sight, but I didn't know her."

A witness told the Newmarket Journal he had seen a woman come out of a property "in tears".

"I could hear her saying she was 'so afraid'," he told the paper.

Another woman, visiting the street, said her friend had seen a male neighbour who apparently knew the female victim being comforted by another person yesterday evening.

Suffolk Police said officers were called just before 6pm. They have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

The force said: "A member of the public reported to police he had found a woman and a young male child both deceased inside the premises.

"A police investigation into the circumstances of the deaths is currently under way. Next of kin are aware.

"Police would like to hear from anyone who was in the Park Avenue area during the day and who may have seen or heard anything that could assist the inquiry."

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