Family Dead in Murder Suicide House Fire in Hemel Hempstead

A murder investigation starts after three people died in house fire.

A Hertfordshire husband and dad stabbed his wife and daughter to death in a “frenzied attack” before setting himself on fire in their family home.

Post mortems have now been completed following the deaths of three people at a property in Hemel Hempstead on Sunday (29 March).

It has been confirmed that Caroline and Katie died as a result of stab wounds, while Gary died as a result of the fire.

Two women and a man have died after a fire at a property in Hemel Hempstead.  Named by neighbours, as Gary Walker, 57, his wife Caroline, 50, and their 24-year-old daughter Katie.

Mr Walker had been a draughtsman for an engineering firm, and he believed that Caroline had previously worked at Waitrose, while daughter Katie worked with animals.

Detectives have launched a murder investigation following a major incident in Hemel Hempstead yesterday (Sunday 29 March).

Investigators now suspect that the tragic incident was the result of a murder-suicide involving the family members.

“Police were called at 12.34pm to reports of injuries to several adults in a property in Stuarts Close, Hemel Hempstead.

Officers and paramedics attended but sadly three people were pronounced dead at the scene. Formal identification is yet to take place.

Two air ambulances were used to take the casualties to hospital from the house.

Detective Inspector Iain MacPherson, from the Beds, Cambs and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: “We are treating this as an isolated incident. Our early inquiries have led us to believe there is no threat to the wider community.

“Our thoughts are with those who have been impacted by this incident.
“We are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and forensic officers and the fire investigation team remain at the location as part of this.”

“Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service were already in attendance as there was a fire at Stuarts close.

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A pensioner Anthony, 69, is accused of killing his wife Ruth Williams, 67, in self-isolation in Britain’s first coronavirus murder case. in Brynglas, South Wales 30th March

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A pensioner Alan Smith, 71, is believed to have stabbed his wife dead in their home in Barrington, near Cambridge, before killing himself amid the coronavirus lockdown, an inquest heard.
They were found after being called by a neighbour who had not seen them since the day the lockdown started two days earlier.  25th March

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Meanwhile another murder investigation has been launched after a family of four and their dog were found dead in Woodmancote, West Sussex village.

Sussex police named them as Robert Needham, 42, Kelly Fitzgibbons, 40, Ava Needham, four, and two-year-old Lexi Needham.

The tragic incident comes just days after the family shared a social media post of their ‘lovely lockdown walk’.

In Cardiff, 69-year-old Anthony Williams from Brynglas, Cwmbran, South Wales, appeared in court accused of murdering his ‘lovely’ wife during self-isolation.