Neighbours mourn ‘beautiful’ family who died in west London flat as police launch homicide probe

Neighbours of a ‘beautiful’ family of four who were yesterday found dead in a west London flat are mourning in disbelief this evening as police named them as Michal and Monika Wlodarczyk and their children Maja, 11, and Dawid, three.

Pictured for the first time today, the family was discovered by police officers when they forced their way into a property in Staines Road, Hounslow, after being called to concerns over their welfare.

Maria Gouveia, 37, told how her daughter was in the same year as Maja at Southville Primary School in Feltham, and that she had not been seen since Tuesday, having also missed a football tournament on Wednesday.

Speaking outside the family’s home last night, she said: ‘When I saw the news about the bodies being found I started crying. I thought, it can’t be them.’ 

The Metropolitan Police confirmed they are not seeking anyone else in connection  with the incident, as a homicide team leads investigations. 

A family of four who were found dead in a west London flat on Friday have been named as Michal, 39, (right) and Monika, 35, (second left) Wlodarczyk and their children Maja, 11, and Dawid, three

Police are currently investigating the circumstances into the deaths

Monika Wlodarczyk, 35 – neighbours have described the family as ‘absolutely gorgeous’

Her daughter had attended a sleepover party at the house on May 31, believed to be in celebration of Maja’s 11th birthday. 

Ms Gouveia added: ‘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.

‘Maja was a lovely, beautiful girl, with a strong personality, but she had not been in school for a few days.

‘People in her class were texting her, my daughter messaged her on Snapchat, it was not like her to go quiet.

‘I think they were going to Mallorca for the dad’s 40th birthday very soon, that’s where I hoped they were when I heard about this.

‘It’s shocking, the little boy was so sweet, he was going to start nursery in a few months, we are praying for them.’

Describing Maja, she said: ‘She was so bright, very smart, and always smiling.’ 

Neighbours are now mourning the ‘absolutely gorgeous’ family. One woman, who did not wish to be named, said she exchanged pleasantries with the family and revealed that the woman was a ‘lovely mother with two young children’ and that the family were ‘absolutely gorgeous’.

She added: ‘It is very shocking. I still can’t digest and understand what’s happened and why (it has) happened, especially when there are little kids involved – it is just devastating.’

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.’

Police are not currently seeking anybody else in connection with the incident and an investigation is being led by homicide detectives from Specialist Crime. 

Forensic teams have been pictured at the scene this afternoon, with some seen examining the top floor flat of the building.

The family’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by family liaison officers. 

Monika, who like her husband is originally from Poland, worked as a cleaner at a hotel at Heathrow Airport, her social media profiles show, while her husband was reportedly a builder. 

Daughter Maja was described as ‘bubbly’ and ‘very intelligent and mature for her age’. 

Another mother, Naura Hooper, 46 – who attended the scene, said she used to take Maja out with her daughters.

She said: ‘Maja was a nice girl, very intelligent and well-liked, the family were nice whenever I met them.’

The house of Oana Petraru, 31, overlooks the family’s upstairs flat where murder detectives have been collective forensics. She said Monika would play and laugh with the children in the evenings and weekends, but that she rarely saw Michal.

Another resident, who did not want to be named, claimed the girl went to Southville Primary School though added she didn’t know the family.

Ms Petraru, 31, said: ‘I just saw the mum because the garden is just out there. I saw her sometimes with the kids outside.

‘They were very happy. She was always playing with them, with the ball, just being a mum, you know? There was nothing strange with them. I don’t know them personally, but she seemed fine.

Monika pictured with daughter Maja, who recently celebrated her 11th birthday

Maja and her brother Dawid would often play in the garden at weekends, neighbours said

One neighbour told MailOnline she caught Michal throwing stones at her cat

The scene in Bedfont, Hounslow where the family were found dead

‘They were laughing and playing in the garden a couple of days ago, the mum and the boy and the girl. They were playing with a ball, they have a trampoline. I can’t see everything because of the fence but I can hear them.

‘She would play with them on the weekends, in the evening. She was always outside with them, as mums do. I saw her but not him.

‘It’s a normal thing here to hear kids around here.

‘I never saw the dad, only maybe last week they were playing outside and he was up on the shed and he was climbing up to take the balls down. My kid throws the ball on the shed also.

‘I never heard fighting. When you hear about adults it’s terrible, but when kids are involved.’

Another resident in the Bedfont area who also faces the home said the only time she spoke to Michal was when he threw stones at her cat for defecating in their garden.

Michelle Cunningham said he seemed ‘hot headed’ but that she ultimately couldn’t judge him from one interaction, adding that he would regularly do DIY.

She described him as having a short and stocky build and dark hair.

According to Ms Cunningham they moved into the upstairs flat around three years ago.

She said: ‘He had a black van parked outside, he would do lots of DIY, banging and stuff, fiddling around, he built the shed out the back.

‘They moved in about three years ago.

‘The only time I ever spoke to him was when he threw stones at my cat. He was [quite aggressive], I just thought if it’s that much of an issue I’ll come round and clear it up. Just on that occasion – so I can’t judge him – he was quite hot headed.

‘You can see their bedroom from my flat, you can’t quite see into it, but there was nothing untoward I could see.

‘My chap doesn’t get home until 11 o’clock and we’re up until four or five every morning, and we have the doors open, but we didn’t hear things.

‘It’s just bizarre. There’s a few kids around so I wouldn’t be able to differentiate, I didn’t even know they had a son. 

‘They moved out for a little bit, whether she went back to Eastern Europe to have her son I don’t know, that was a couple of years ago, she may have gone back home to her family then come back.’

A man lays flowers at the scene outside a property where the bodies of four people believed to be from the same family were found dead

Forensic teams carrying equipment arrived at the scene today in Bedfont

Police and forensics teams at the scene where police were called at 3:12pm yesterday to concerns for the welfare of the occupants

Neighbours are mourning the ‘absolutely gorgeous’ family that lived in the west London flat 

Felton resident Michael Oban, 56, who lives about half a mile from the property, said he felt ‘disturbed’ by the events.

He added: ‘Whatever the circumstances, the death of four people inside a property really is quite shocking.

‘You have two children in there. It’s always distressing when you hear children lose their life.’

Another next-door neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘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.’

Police said that enquiries are under way in respect of formal identification and informing next of kin.

A woman, who laid flowers at the scene, said the family were eastern European and ‘kept themselves to themselves’

A policeman stood with his armed crossed outside a house while forensic teams examine the property behind him

Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson, local policing commander in west London, spoke to reporters outside the scene 

Speaking to reporters at the scene, Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson, local policing commander in west London, said: ‘Our investigation is at a very early stage, and based on our initial enquiries, we are not currently seeking anybody else in connection with the incident.

‘Post-mortem examinations are now being arranged.’ 

‘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.’

Detective Chief Inspector Linda Bradley, from Specialist Crime, said: ‘I can assure local people that specialist detectives are working to establish exactly what happened and I will provide further information as soon as I can.’

She added that police are retaining an ‘open mind’ aorund the circumstances which lead to the four deaths. 

People can be seen carrying forensic equipment towards the house in Bedfont

Forensics teams can be seen exmaining the top floor flat of the house

One officer was pictured outside the scene at Staines Road earlier this morning

Staines road in Bedfont, Hounslow where police were called to a property yesterday

 Labour MP for Feltham and Heston Seema Malhotra tweeted: ‘Everyone will be devastated by news that two adults and two children have found dead in their home in Bedfont. 

‘Specialist investigations are ongoing our thoughts are with their family. If you have any information please do get in touch with the police.’

The Leader of Hounslow Council, Councillor Shantanu Rajawat 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. 

‘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.