A Zimbabwean woman and her two teenage children were found dead at their home in Great Denham on Monday, prompting a Bedfordshire Police manhunt for a suspect believed to have left the country.
Officers forced entry into a detached property on Carnoustie Drive after concerns were raised that the family had not been seen for several days. Inside, they discovered the bodies of a woman and two children, both aged 15.
In a statement, Assistant Chief Constable John Murphy said:
“This is a deeply distressing incident in which a mother and her two children are believed to have been murdered. Our thoughts are, first and foremost, with all those affected.
As a result of inquiries undertaken so far, we have identified a suspect, who was known to all three victims, and who we believe has since left the country. While there is nothing to suggest there is any wider risk to the public, we will be increasing the police presence in and around the area to support the investigation and provide reassurance to residents.”
Bedfordshire Police have not officially named the victims or the suspect.
Zimbabwean broadcaster Ezra “Tshisa” Sibanda named the woman as Nothabo Zandile Khumalo and the suspect as Mkhanyisi Mark Tshuma on social media. The Herald has not independently verified these names.
The family is understood to have moved to the UK from Zimbabwe about two years ago. Neighbours described them as a quiet family. One resident, who gave her name only as Vicky, said the family “seemed pleasant”.
On Tuesday evening, mourners laid flowers outside the home. One woman, in tears, said: “We’re really sorry to lose her, she was such a gracious mother.”
Police said the suspect was known to all three victims. They are working with UK and international partners to locate him and bring him back to the UK.
Detectives are appealing for anyone who saw suspicious activity on Carnoustie Drive on Friday and Saturday to come forward.
Carnoustie Drive is a residential street of large, executive-style homes. Property listings in the area range from about £875,000 to over £1.5 million, according to public property data.
The deaths have shocked the Great Denham community and drawn wide coverage in the UK.
