A mother killed her two children before walking to her husband’s workplace and stabbing him in her dressing gown, neighbors claim.
The 49-year-old woman, who was arrested and remains in custody, is suspected of murdering her two children – 11-year-old Ethan John and 7-year-old Elizabeth John – at the family home in Stoke-on-Trent.
She then walked to her husband’s workplace – a car wash five minutes’ walk away – in a red dressing gown, before stabbing him just after 2pm on Sunday. the Telegraph reports.
The ‘loving and devoted’ father, known locally as Alex, was taken to hospital with a suspected stab wound to his stomach before being released later that day.
Police then went to the family’s rented terraced house on Flax Street, where the two children were found unconscious and with “significant injuries.”
A brother and sister found dead in a suspected double homicide in Stoke-on-Trent have been named as 11-year-old Ethan John (left) and 7-year-old Elizabeth John (right)
Police traveled to a house on Flax Street where they arrested a 49-year-old woman from Stoke-on-Trent
A neighbor who spoke to the father after he was released from hospital said he is “absolutely devastated by the loss of his two beautiful children,” according to the Telegraph.
“He’s heartbroken. He loved those kids and would do anything for them. It is heartbreaking for the family and their friends and neighbours.’
“It has shocked everyone on this street. They seemed like such a happy family,” said the neighbor.
A witness to the car wash stabbing said, “I heard screaming and Alex, who I know from the car wash, was stabbed in the abdomen…while he was in the waiting room on the premises.
“My father saw Alex being taken to the hospital on a stretcher. Despite his injuries, he still smiled with the biggest grin on his face and waved to my father.
‘He didn’t know then that his children were dead. The police told him while he was in the hospital. It would crack a man.’
Officers were first called to the car wash on Campbell Road at 2.04pm yesterday after reports of an attack involving a man and a woman
Tributes poured in from the children’s schools, describing Ethan as a “great” kid and Elizabeth as a “ray of sunshine.”
Their shock deaths came after police visited a home in the West Midlands town yesterday following an earlier stabbing at a car wash.
At home, they arrested their mother, 49, in connection with the stabbing.
However, they also found two people unconscious with serious injuries. They died on the spot despite the desperate efforts of paramedics.
Now police have confirmed that the dead bodies belonged to two young children. The woman has also been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody.
Police say she is related to the children, although no further details about her identity have been released.
Ethan’s school said, “Ethan was a wonderful member of our school community. He had impeccable manners and an infectious smile.
“He will be greatly missed by both staff and students and will forever be a part of our hearts.”
In tribute to Elizabeth, her school said, “Elizabeth was a kind, caring and kind member of our school family.
She was a ray of sunshine who always had a smile on her face. She was everyone’s friend – she was both smart and popular.
“The loss of Elizabeth is truly devastating to all of us and her absence will leave a huge hole in our school community.”
Detective Chief Inspector Cheryl Hannan said: “I cannot imagine the pain and suffering that the family and friends of these two children are feeling right now.
Specially trained officers continue to support those closest to the children as we learn more about what happened yesterday afternoon.
“I would like to thank those who have already provided information and the local community who have respected the cordon on Flax Street.
“We are solely focused on figuring out what happened to these two children and supporting those affected by this deeply traumatic incident.”
The 49-year-old woman from Stoke-on-Trent, who was arrested on suspicion of murder, is currently being questioned by officers.
Police say they are particularly interested in CCTV or dash cam footage from the area of Flax Street and Campbell Road between 1.30pm and 2.30pm.
The bodies of the children were found in Flax Street, while in Campbell Road the alleged stabbing took place in the car wash.
The force said it made a voluntary referral to the Independent Bureau of Police Conduct due to recent police contact.
Officers were first called to the car wash on Campbell Road in Stoke-on-Trent at 2:04pm today after reports of a sexual assault involving a man and a woman.
A man in his 40s was rushed to hospital by paramedics but his injuries were not considered life-threatening.