UK: Couple found dead at their home in Murder-Suicide style

The couples body was discovered on Sunday morning

A murder investigation has been launched after a couple were found dead at their family home. 

The bodies of a couple named locally as Tracey Baker, 42, and her husband Kevin, 35, were discovered at the property in the market town of Chard, Somerset, on Sunday morning.

A neighbour said the couple, who are believed to have two daughters and a son under the age of 10, had recently encountered marital problems after Mr Baker stopped working due to health issues

Officers were called to the home, believed to be worth around £140,000, at around 10.30am on Sunday. Mrs Baker died from multiple head injuries and Mr Baker hanged himself, police said. 

Avon and Somerset Police has launched a murder investigation but said it was an 'isolated incident' and that officers were not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.

A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said the couple 'hadn't been getting on very well recently'.

'I don't know why or what had happened,' she said. 'I think he was still living there but there were a few nights recently when he didn't come home.' 

She said the family were 'lovely' and that Mrs Baker would 'always say hello'.

'They've got three children, they're quite young,' she said. 'The youngest doesn't even go to school yet - I think she's about three. I don't think the oldest was any older than nine. 

'They were lovely, such nice people. Tracey was absolutely gorgeous. If I went out the front she would always say hello. It's so sad, I just don't know what to think.

She stayed at home most of the time, I don't think she worked. I know Kevin was a builder but he had not been able to work for the past few months because of illness.' 

Councillor Andrew Turpin, who represents Tatworth and Forton at South Somerset District Council told the Somerset County Gazette the deaths had left the community feeling 'devastated'.

He said: 'I’ve never known anything like this to happen here – it is totally foreign to us and it is difficult to know what words to say.

'But this has shaken all of us in the village and has left us devastated as a community. 

'It is going to take a long time to get over this, but people will rally round. It is just so terribly sad.'

Senior Investigating Officer Andy Mott said: 'Our thoughts are very much with the families affected by this tragic incident and they're continuing to be supported by specially trained family liaison officers.

'Although we're not looking for anyone else in connection with these deaths, our enquiries will continue to develop a full understanding of what happened, following which a file will be supplied to the Coroner's office.'

Police refused to say who is now looking after the couple's three young children. 

Source: Telegraph