Four members of the same family have been found dead at a home in a Norfolk town, police have said.
Officers forced their way into the home in Costessey near Norwich on Friday morning at 7.15am after a call from a member of the public, and found a 45-year-old man, a 36-year-old woman and two young girls whose ages officers have not released.
Local people described their distress at the news on Friday. One neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “It’s very sad and we’re shocked. Nothing like this happens round here. It’s a very quiet neighbourhood.”
Another resident, a man in his 40s, told the Eastern Daily Press: “Our thoughts are with those who know and love them because this is just horrendous. You don’t know how to react to such news.”
DCI Chris Burgess, from the Norfolk and Suffolk major investigation team, said he believed the four were members of the same family. He told reporters: “We can confirm all four were found with injuries, and postmortem examinations will be held in due course to establish cause of death. Officers are expected to remain at the scene for some time.
“We are still working to understand the full circumstances which led to the deaths of these people, however at this time we believe this to be an isolated incident.
“I recognise the shock and upset this incident will cause in the local community and we will have increased patrols in the area across the weekend. I would urge anyone with any concerns to speak to these officers.”
He said police had previously gone to the property, on 14 December 2023, in relation to a missing person inquiry.
“I’m aware there’s a lot of public interest in this investigation and speculation as to who is involved on social media, including the names of those who have died,” he said.
“The man and two children lived at the address, but the woman involved was visiting and didn’t live at the property. Next of kin have been informed and we are supporting them.”
He said inquiries were under way to formally identify the four people.
Burgess added: “I would stress to the community, let’s be very aware of what we share on social media without confirmed information. We don’t want to cause any undue distress or give false information that might actually hamper the investigation rather than support it.”
He said officers were aware of “commentary on social media about a knife discovered in a wooded area near to the address”, but he said that “at this time we’re satisfied it’s not connected to this incident”.
Sharon Blundell, the Liberal Democrat Norfolk county councillor for Costessey, said: “I am still in total shock, along with the rest of the community.” She said local representatives were working to “arrange support for the community”.
A cordon was in place and detectives from Norfolk and Suffolk constabularies were leading the investigation. Forensic examinations were also under way.
Gary Blundell, another local Lib Dem councillor, said there was no danger to the public. “It’s shocking. It just proves these sorts of things can happen anywhere. My heart goes out to anybody involved in this.”
The house is on Queen’s Hills, a new-build housing estate on the western edge of Costessey, built in 2006 and now home to an estimated 5,000 people living in 2,000 homes.
