Police launch double murder inquiry after girl found dead with mother

Police believe the victims and the murder suspect knew each other

The murder suspect was found at the scene with serious injuries (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A 12-year-old girl found dead alongside her mother had been stabbed in the abdomen, police said, while a man arrested on suspicion of their murders remains in hospital.

The girl and her 44-year-old mother were found dead inside a house at Heath Estate, in the village of Great Waldingfield, near Sudbury, on 8 September, Suffolk Police said.

Officers were called to the house just after 9.55am following reports of concern for the safety of those at a property.

The force said that a 46-year-old man, who was found inside the house with serious injuries, has been arrested on suspicion of two counts of murder and remains in hospital in a stable condition.

He was taken by air ambulance to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge for treatment.

The girl died of a stab wound to the abdomen, a post-mortem examination that was carried out on Tuesday recorded.

Her mother died of pressure to the neck.

Officers are treating it as a contained incident, with no wider threat to the community, and believe all three people were known to each other.

The victims have not yet been formally identified.

Detectives are appealing for witnesses or anybody with any information to contact the major investigation team, via an online portal or by calling 101 and quoting reference: 57943/22.

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or online.

Additional reporting by PA