Mother of Sara Sharif, 10, who was found dead at her Surrey home, says tragic girl ‘changed behavior when she moved in with her father’ – as police continue international manhunt for three murder suspects
- Olga Sharif, 36, claims she was only allowed to see her children twice since 2019
The mother of a 10-year-old girl found dead in Woking last week says her daughter’s behavior changed when she moved in with her father.
Sara Sharif tragically died at her father’s £550,000 home in the quiet village of Horsell, near Woking, in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Her mother Olga Sharif told The Sun that Sara’s behavior changed as her ex-husband Urfan Sharif’s influence on her life increased.
Ms Sharif, 36, said she married Urfan, 41, in November 2009, but the marriage ended in 2017. Her ex-husband got full custody of both Sara and her 13-year-old brother in 2019. claims she was only allowed to see her children twice.
Ms Sharif is now awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine how her daughter died. She hopes to bury Sara in her native Poland. An autopsy was scheduled to take place today.
Olga Sharif, 36, with a photo of her beloved daughter Sara, whom she would like to bury in Poland
Sara Sharif, pictured with her mother Olga Sharif, was found dead at her father’s house – and was alone when police arrived
Sara’s mother Olga, 36, (left) claims her daughter’s behavior changed when she moved in with her father, Urfan Sharif (right), 41 after he gained full custody in 2019
Detectives have launched a murder investigation and a manhunt is underway for three people who were known to the girl but are believed to have left the country.
A spokesman for Surrey Police said: ‘Detectives have confirmed that no other people were present at the address when they arrived early Thursday morning. The three people they would like to speak to were acquaintances of the victim.’
Mrs Sharif was on her way back to Poland when she heard over the phone that her daughter had died.
She said, “She told me Sara was found dead in a house and I burst into tears. It took us six hours to get back to the UK.’
“I couldn’t see my daughter for four years, and now she’s dead. She’s just a kid. She had done nothing wrong,” she added.
Sara Sharif tragically died at her father’s home in the quiet village of Horsell, near Woking, in the early hours of Thursday morning
Tributes have poured in for the “beautiful” Sara, with flowers and notes left outside her childhood home. A mourner is depicted leaving flowers outside the property on Friday
Sara was alone when the police arrived at the house.
Ms Sharif, who now lives in Somerset, told The Sun she wanted her children to learn both her and Urfan’s religions, becoming Catholic and Muslim. She added, “I didn’t want to put pressure on the kids. I told them that if they want to become Muslims, they can be Muslims, but they can choose later in life.’
The heartbroken mother described Sara as “a wonderful child.”
Tributes have poured in for the “beautiful” Sara, with flowers and notes left outside her childhood home. A note read: “Dear girl. I’m sorry your sparkle went out too soon. Rest in peace X.’