A man and a woman killed in a suspected knife attack in Huddersfield have been named by police.
West Yorkshire police said the two victims were Katie Higton, 27, and Steven Harnett, 25, from Huddersfield. Higton was a mother of four children and Harnett was reportedly her new boyfriend.
A 34-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of double murder and remains in police custody.
Police were called to a house in the Dalton area of Huddersfield at 9.53am on Monday after paramedics found Higton and Hartnett, who had suffered multiple injuries and had died at the scene.
Postmortems are yet to be conducted but both victims received injuries believed to have been inflicted by a bladed weapon, police said.
On Tuesday a heavy police presence and cordons remained at the scene of the suspected double murder on Harpe Inge, the residential street in question.
The former brother- and sister-in-law of Higton paid tribute to her as “the best mum” and said the family was “absolutely devastated” as they placed flowers on behalf of her two eldest children at the scene.
Her former brother-in-law, who asked not to be named, said his brother had been in a relationship with Higton for seven years and was the father of her two oldest children, daughters aged nine and 10.
He told the PA news agency the children “were in the property when the incident took place”. He described Higton as “bubbly, outgoing, fun” and “a great mum”.
A resident from the street behind Harpe Inge said: “I knew it was serious, with the air ambulance and the forensics. They were out all day.”
A card left with flowers at the scene said: “RIP my darling. We love you. No more suffering.” Another said: “I am so sorry for how things have ended.”
Scott I’Anson, who lives on Harpe Inge, said he did not know the woman who lived in the house but had seen her and her children.
“They kept to themselves but a lot of people liked them,” he said. “It’s quite a big family street. I knew she had a partner but I never met him.”
Specially trained officers are supporting their families, police said, with officers conducting patrols in the local area to reassure residents.
Det Supt Marc Bowes of the force’s homicide and major enquiry team, said: “This has clearly been an exceptionally serious offence and I can promise residents that a full investigation is ongoing into the murder of this man and woman.
“We are conducting extensive inquiries at the scene and at other locations in the Dalton area as we investigate the circumstances of what took place.
He added: “I am appealing for anyone who saw suspicious activity overnight or this morning at the property on Harpe Inge to contact us.
“Residents in the nearby area will also note an increased police presence on their streets and I want to reassure them and the wider community we are doing all we can to bring persons responsible for this offence to justice.”
Police asked anyone with information to contact the homicide and major inquiry team on 101 referencing police log 408 of 15 May, or to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
