Friday 12 July 2013

FILICIDE ? (multiple): UK: Devon: Katherine Hooper jumps off Haytor with her son

Mum kills herself and two little boys: Double death at Dartmoor beauty spot, then police find toddler's body at home

  • Katherine Hooper, 24, and Joshua, five, fell 100ft from Haytor, Dartmoor
  • They both died shortly after the fall from rocks at 11.50am on Friday
  • Police searching her Paignton home found the body of a two-year-old boy
  • The second boy is thought to be Miss Hooper's younger son Sam
Died: Police believe Katherine Hooper, 24, killed herself and her two young sons
Died: Police believe Katherine Hooper, 24, killed herself and her two young sons
A young mother killed herself and her five-year-old son by jumping 100ft off rocks at a beauty spot on Dartmoor yesterday.
Police believe Katherine Hooper, 24, also killed her younger son, aged two. The toddler’s body was found at her home 20 miles away.
Tourists said they saw Mrs Hooper put Joshua, five, on her shoulders before jumping off Haytor in Devon, a spot popular with ramblers. 
Police opened a murder inquiry, but said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.
Friends claimed Mrs Hooper had serious problems in her relationship, which were known to authorities.
She had gone missing a few weeks ago, prompting Devon and Cornwall police to launch a public appeal.
Last night serious concerns were raised about why officers and social services had not acted sooner to protect the children.
Mrs Hooper was last seen alive yesterday morning. She was walking with Joshua by a cliff at Haytor, which is almost 1,500ft above sea level and one of Dartmoor National Park’s most famous landmarks.
Shortly afterwards, horrified onlookers saw the pair lifeless on the ground below, after what they believed was a tragic accident.
Police, paramedics and search teams rushed to the scene and air ambulances were dispatched to airlift the pair to hospital, but both died shortly after the fall.
Later, officers travelled to Mrs Hooper’s home in Paignton, Devon, and found the body of a two-year-old boy, also thought to be her son.
It is unclear how he died but a murder investigation has been launched into the deaths.
Killed: Joshua, five, (left) died after falling 100ft from the Dartmoor beauty spot, while a body thought to be that of Sam, two, (right) was found at Miss Hooper's home in Paignton
Killed: Joshua, five, (left) died after falling 100ft from the Dartmoor beauty spot, while a body thought to be that of Sam, two, (right) was found at Miss Hooper's home in Paignton
Dartmoor: Police stood guard near the spot where the pair tragically plunged to their deaths
Dartmoor: Police stood guard near the spot where the pair tragically plunged to their deaths
Fall: The mother and son fell from Haytor, a 1,500-ft granite outcrop, at around 11.50am, and died shortly afterwards
Fall: The mother and son fell from Haytor, a 1,500-ft granite outcrop, at around 11.50am, and died shortly afterwards
Detective Superintendent Paul Burgan, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: ‘We are keeping an open mind about all three deaths, but at this stage we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
‘We are keen to speak to anyone who may have any information or might have been in the Haytor area on Friday.’

Adrian Leisk, acting chief inspector of the force, added: ‘On examination of the scene it appears they have fallen 80 to 100ft, quite a substantial fall.’ 

He said that the family’s next of kin had been informed, and post-mortem examinations will now be carried out on all three. 
Neighbours said Mrs Hooper was a ‘nice woman’ who had serious relationship problems with a partner. Police are said to have been aware of allegations she had made against the man.
999 call: Emergency services rushed to Haytor on Dartmoor, but could not save Miss Hooper and Joshua
999 call: Emergency services rushed to Haytor on Dartmoor, but could not save Miss Hooper and Joshua
Tragedy: The body of a two-year-old body was found at Katherine Hooper's home in Paignton hours after she and her son Joshua died at Haytor, Dartmoor
Tragedy: The body of a two-year-old body was found at Katherine Hooper's home in Paignton hours after she and her son Joshua died at Haytor, Dartmoor
The tragedy unfolded at 11.50am on Haytor as temperatures rose to close to 30C at the tourist spot.
Haytor, a steep granite tor, is considered Dartmoor’s most famous site and is popular with coach parties, walkers and sightseers. 
During the 19th century steps were cut into one side of the tor and a metal handrail fixed to allow tourists easier access to the summit.
At its highest point it reaches 1,499ft (457 metres) above sea level, providing panoramic views of the south coast, the Teign Estuary and the rolling countryside.
Mike Nendick, from the Dartmoor National Park Authority, said there had been accidents  at Haytor before but they were ‘not commonplace’.
‘When you have an attractive landscape, whether it’s on the coast or moors, it attracts people. There’s always the potential for accidents,’ he added.
‘It wouldn’t be appropriate to comment on the accident. But we would urge members of the public to wear sensible footwear and consider weather conditions.’

3 comments:

  1. I find this quite bizarre.
    If you watch ITV


    9:37 pm, Fri 12 Jul 2013
    Full report: Mother and two young sons killed in Devon
    by David Woodland

    Woodland says it was not the main massif which the pair jumped off, but another one 100yards away and down the north face.
    called LOWMAN
    http://www.javu.co.uk/Climbing/Guides/DartmoorRoutes/Haytor/Lowman.shtml

    One wonders why the mother chose to kill each child in a different place. In any case jumping off the rock is no guarantee of death and may result only in very serious injury. We are not told the exact cause of deaths.

    it is not 100 ft high but 150ft.

    There is no mention anywhere of how the mother and child got to Haytor
    ""The bodies of the two people were found at the bottom of the rock, and airlifted to hospital, where they died."

    "He added: "I am horrified what has happened. Kat could not drive so I don't know how she got up to Haytor with Joshy. It's a mystery."

    "But when officers called at the mother's home, in Duke Close, they made the second grisly discovery and launched a murder inquiry.

    Det Sup Burgan said there was "nothing obvious" at the address to suggest the cause of death, adding "there will be a thorough forensic examination".

    Read more: http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/Murder-probe-launched-Dartmoor-deaths-mum/story-19515660-detail


    We are not being told everything here - I wonder why, or why the journalisits are not asking deeper questions???

    No further news about post-mortems too....
    "post mortem examinations are due to take place in the next few days."
    BBC Sunday 14 July.
    No rush there, then.

    ReplyDelete
  2. two weeks later, still no post-mortem reports have been published about any of the dead.
    http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/VIDEO-Police-release-CCTV-images-tor-death-mum/story-19541738-detail/story.html#axzz2aNdLyeZq

    "18 Jul 2013 - No cause of death has been established yet"
    http://www.palm.fm/p/error404

    "Inquests into the deaths of Ms Hooper and her sons have been opened at the coroner's office in Torquay Hospital.
    Torbay and South Devon Coroner Ian Arrow was told the causes of the deaths would be known after further examination of the bodies.
    The inquests were adjourned to a date to be fixed."
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-23345443

    NOrmally, an inquest is opened and adjourned once the post-mortem is completed. WHat is going on here?? What are "further examinations"???

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. update
      no details of further tests.
      [Torbay and South Devon coroner] Mr Arrow said the medical cause of all three deaths had' yet to be ascertained pending results from histology and toxicology'
      17 July
      http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Inquest-deaths-Haytor-mum-sons-officially-opened/story-19530964-detail/story.html


      By a strange coincidence, a father who killed his baby in the same town, Paignton, was charged with murder the same day Ms Hooper was seen alive, 11 July , relating to 25 November
      2012
      http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/Man-charged-murdering-baby/story-19505143-detail/story.html

      Delete