Hounslow deaths – latest: Murder probe launched as mother and father’s fatal injuries revealed
Bodies of four members of Wlodarczyk family, including 11-year-old Maja and three-year-old Dawid, discovered when police forced their way into their Hounslow home
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A murder investigation has been launched after the bodies of a family of four were discovered at a home in Hounslow.
A post-mortem examination gave Monika Wlodarczyk’s cause of death as multiple sharp force injuries. Her body was found alongside her husband and two children after police forced entry when concerns were raised for their welfare.
The Met Police were contacted by 11-year-old Maja’s school at 3.12pm on Friday, June 16, after she failed to attend school for four days and family members failed to respond to messages.
She was found dead alongside her younger brother Dawid, three, and parents, Michal Wlodarczyk, 39, and Monika, 35, with the date of their deaths unknown.
Michal’s cause of death as sharp force injuries to his neck, while post-mortem examinations into the deaths of Maja and Dawid are due to be held on Wedensday.
Tributes have poured in over the weekend to the family while police have confirmed they are not currently seeking anybody else in connection with the deaths.
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‘Gorgeous’ family of four found dead in Hounslow flat named as community in ‘shock’
A west London community is in “shock” after a family of four, including two young children, were found dead at their home.
Michal Wlodarczyk, 39, Monika Wlodarczyk, 35, Maja Wlodarczyk, 11, and Dawid Wlodarczyk, three, were discovered dead on Friday afternoon by police who forced their way into their Hounslow flat.
“It’s tragic, her parents were really good people, hard workers, the mother was a cleaner in a hotel, I think the father was a builder,” said family friend Maria Gouveia, whose daughter was friends with Maja.
“Maja was a lovely, beautiful girl, with a strong personality, but she had not been in school for a few days.
William Mata has more here:
‘Gorgeous’ family of four found dead in Hounslow flat named as community in ‘shock’
Four who died, including boy, 3, and girl, 11, in Hounslow tragedy named by Metropolitan Police
Hounslow Council ‘deeply saddened’ at ‘truly tragic event'
The Leader of Hounslow Council, Councillor Shantanu Rajawat has said he is “deeply saddened” to hear of the “truly tragic event”.
He said: “I am deeply saddened to hear about the deaths of four people in Feltham North, a truly tragic event. My heartfelt sympathies go out to their family and friends at this extremely difficult time.
“I know this will send shockwaves across our community but want to assure residents that the police are not currently seeking anybody else in connection with the incident. Specialist officers are working hard to establish exactly what happened in this incident.
“I ask that residents please respect the police investigation at this crucial time while formal identification and informing next of kin is conducted.
“As the police have stated, this incident will be particularly upsetting for children, and it is important that residents are responsible about what they post on social media, including not naming or speculating as to the names of those who’ve died.
“I want to thank the Metropolitan Police and other blue light services for their work and the Council will continue to support the investigation in every way possible.”
Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to call 101, quoting reference 5135/16Jun.
What police have said
Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson, policing commander in west London, said at the scene: “I believe we know who they are – four members of the same family – however, urgent inquiries are ongoing to locate and inform their next of kin and it would be inappropriate for me to name them at this time.
“Post-mortem examinations are now being arranged.”
He previously said: “Our investigation is at a very early stage, and based on our initial inquiries, we are not currently seeking anybody else in connection with the incident.
“I know the shock and distress that this terrible incident will cause among the community in Hounslow and beyond. I can assure local people that specialist officers are working to establish exactly what happened and I will provide further information as soon as I can.
“I am also aware that this incident will be particularly upsetting for children, and I ask people to please be responsible about what they post on social media, including not naming or speculating as to the names of those who’ve died.
“There will be additional police officers in the area across the weekend. I urge anyone with information or concerns to speak with those officers.”
Police name family of four found dead in Hounslow flat
The four people found dead at a house in Hounslow on Friday have been named as Michal Wlodarczyk, 39, Monika Wlodarczyk, 35, Maja Wlodarczyk, 11, and Dawid Wlodarczyk, 3, by the Metropolitan Police.
Pictures from scene in Hounslow
Police not seeking anyone else in connection with deaths as victims named
The Metropolitan Police said on Saturday that although formal identification was yet to take place, the bodies were believed to be those of Michal Wlodarczyk, 39, Monika Wlodarczyk, 35, Maja Wlodarczyk, 11, and Dawid Wlodarczyk, three.
Detective Chief Inspector Linda Bradley said: “I would like to assure the community that specialist detectives are working to establish the circumstances which led to this tragic incident and we will provide further updates as soon as appropriate. Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by what has happened.
“Our investigation is at an early stage, and the situation remains that we are not currently seeking anybody else in connection with the incident.
“We are however retaining an open mind, and I would ask anyone who feels they have pertinent information to contact us as soon as possible.”
What local residents have said
A man who lives next door, who did not wish to be named, told reporters: “They were just normal neighbours – we just had greetings here and there, that kind of stuff.
“I came home from work and there were police everywhere. It was really busy. Nothing like that happens here.
“I have no idea what happened.”
Naresh Regmi, 49, who lives nearby, said: “The police were here yesterday with forensics, working on the property.
“We didn’t know the people who lived there – maybe they were new to this area?”
What is known about what happened
A three-year-old boy and a girl, 11, have been found dead alongside two family members in a flat in west London.
Metropolitan Police officers forced their way into the home in Staines Road, Bedfont, Hounslow, at just after 3pm on Friday after being called to concerns about the family.
They found four bodies, a man and woman, both aged in their 30s, an 11-year-old girl and a three year-old boy.
Officers are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
Floral tributes pictured being left at scene
Family ‘kept themselves to themselves’, says woman laying flowers
A woman, who laid flowers at the scene in Hounslow, said the family who lived in the house were eastern European and “kept themselves to themselves”.
Michelle Cunningham, 49, who lives nearby, said: “I thought I’d come and lay down flowers after hearing what happened. It’s so sad.
“They were an eastern European family, kept themselves to themselves. I used to see the man outside his house sometimes.
“I didn’t know their names or much about what happened – I just heard about it last night.”