Detectives investigating the murder of four people in a “house of horrors” said a suspect was on Tuesday under arrest in hospital — as it emerged one victim had only moved in while her own flat was being decorated.
NHS hospital worker Dolet Hill, 64, was found stabbed to death at the property in Bermondsey alongside her 58-year-old partner Denton Burke, Mrs Hill’s daughter Tanysha ‘Rachquel’ Ofori-Akuffo, 45, and granddaughter Samantha Drummonds, 27.
When officers entered the house they also found a man and officers deployed a taser in order to detain him. He was then arrested on suspicion of murder.
This 28-year-old man from Lewisham is being treated in hospital. He is in a stable condition but under arrest.
The family of all the deceased have been informed, the Metropolitan Police confirmed on Tuesday.
Neighbours heard a woman’s screams before the bodies were discovered inside the three-bedroom terrace home at 1.40am on Monday. Detectives spent 12 hours at Samantha’s flat four-and-a-half miles away in Forest Hill on Monday and quizzed neighbours on her recent movements and social media activity.
One of them paid tribute to “the kindest girl you could meet” and revealed that she had only recently moved back into her family home in Bermondsey while work was being done on her flat.
Rudra Brambhatt told the Standard: “The police knocked on our door and asked us the last time we had seen Samantha. They asked about her contact numbers and Instagram and everything. They were at the flat all day.
“She had only recently moved out temporarily while her bathroom was done. Samantha took her cat and went back to the family home. We are devastated. We got on so well. She loved music and worked at NatWest.”
She added: “She told me she was so excited about having her flat done, she told me about the colours she had chosen. Now Samantha will never get to enjoy it. She was a beautiful person in every way, the kindest person and perfect neighbour.”
Mother-of two Mrs Hill, who was born in Jamaica, recently underwent cancer treatment and worked as a housekeeper at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, friends said. The churchgoer used to go on charity missions to Ghana to give orphans clothing, food and toys.
Tracey Henry, the surviving daughter, was “absolutely devastated” and unable to talk to anyone having “lost four members of her family”.
The friend added: “Why it happened we just don’t know. It’s a really bad time for us all.” Venecia Reid, Mrs Hill’s niece, said: “She was very loving, very kind, very generous. She worked very hard to support her two girls and her two grandkids. She does not deserve this.”
Alastair Gourlay, a director at Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospital trust said staff were “devastated” to hear about the “tragic death” of Ms Hill, who worked in the pharmacy department for more than 21 years before retiring in 2018.
He said: “Dolet was a well-respected colleague, who also helped to improve the workplace for others as an active Unison representative. Our thoughts are with Dolet’s family, friends and all who worked with her.”
Neighbours were alerted by a woman screaming for five minutes before seeing emergency workers frantically trying to save the victims in the middle of Delaford Road. Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
