Police ‘probe if Epsom College head was killed by partner in murder-suicide’

Detectives think the head instructor at Epsom School and her and youthful daughter were killed by her gun-proudly owning partner in a murder-suicide. 

The bodies of Emma Pattison, 45, her partner George, 39, and their 7-yr-previous daughter Lettie were discovered by police at their dwelling on the grounds of the prestigious faculty in Surrey.

George is believed to have killed his relatives some time late Saturday night time after Ms Pattison experienced made a distressed call to a household member, BBC reported.

It is comprehended that Surrey Police had phoned George in the days forward of the killings soon after his gun licence experienced been just lately up to date. They were being reportedly checking the particulars of his new deal with.  

Emma Pattison, 45, was located dead with her husband George, 39, and seven-12 months-old daughter Lettie after police had been termed on Sunday. The loved ones is pictured with each other

Mrs Pattison with her daughter Lettie. The seven-yr-old has been described as a ‘little angel’ and ‘perfect in every single way’ following her loss of life on Sunday morning 

Surrey Police said it is thought the tragedy is an ‘isolated incident’ and there is ‘no third-get together involvement’. The spouse and children property on the college grounds is found at the top rated of this image 

Mrs Pattison experienced only taken up the submit at the prestigious school final September and was mentioned to be ‘excited’ about her role as the very first ever feminine head.

Farmers’ woman who went on to join teaching elite 

Emma Pattison (pictured) grew up on a farm in Lincoln but rose to grow to be the first woman head instructor of a person of Britain’s top non-public educational institutions.

She would get up to feed the chickens at 6.30am each and every morning just before attending her girls’ faculty in Sleaford.

After examining French and English literature at Leeds College, she joined Thomas Cook’s graduate training scheme hoping to journey.

 

But instead she observed herself primarily based in Bromley, south London which she later on joked was not ‘quite the sparkly lights’ she’d imagined. She adjusted professions following flicking by means of the Moments Instructional Supplement in a espresso store, and educating took her from South Leicestershire to a collection of Surrey non-public faculties in Caterham, Guildford and Leatherhead.

She turned head at Croydon Significant College in south London in 2015. Buddies informed the Mail she ‘couldn’t wait’ to get commenced at Epsom in 2022 as the 1st ever female head. And within just a month of her arriving, it experienced scooped Impartial School of the Yr and the Student Wellbeing award. 

Only weeks ago she instructed a podcast offered by pupils that going to Epsom Higher education had been a ‘really massive change’ and that her husband, who she married in 2011, had also unexpectedly improved employment.

‘In phrases of transition, it’s been a really large adjust for my household,’ she said in December.

‘We’ve moved home – we’ve purchased a pet. I’ve received a new career, my husband has obtained a new occupation. That was not intended to come about, but it did, and my daughter has begun a new faculty so there’s been a large amount of modify for us as a loved ones.’ 

The school’s rifle variety is just a stone’s throw from the head teacher’s lodgings, but police yesterday insisted that this was not ‘part of the crime scene’.

It is understood the selection does not hold reside ammunition and guns are stored in a secured armoury. Mrs Pattison’s dwelling, which is surrounded by other teachers’ lodgings in the 19th century school’s grounds, was taped off yesterday.

Forensics officers have been noticed getting into the property, where a Range Rover and BMW 8 series belonging to the family members ended up parked on the driveway.

Mr Pattison was a ‘successful’ chartered accountant known by good friends for his ‘fast cars’, nevertheless he was explained to be ‘much quieter’ than his spouse.

The spouse and children experienced just marketed their 4-bedroom household in Caterham, Surrey, for a rumoured £1.5million.They experienced lived there when Mrs Pattison was head teacher at Croydon Significant University, an additional prestigious impartial school a handful of miles down the street.

Mom and dad of ex-pupils advised how Mrs Pattison was an ‘amazing head trainer who completely modified the community’ in her 6 yrs at the girls’ university.

‘She realized every single solitary member of the college – every single youngster – she realized every thing about them,’ mentioned father Jamal Hirani. One more dad or mum, who questioned not to be named, mentioned: ‘She turned the school about, and she did so quite a few things that enriched the kid’s life.

‘She was slight but quite formidable, she knew all of the pupils by title. She was accurately what you would want from a head teacher.’ Friends of the few and previous business enterprise associates of Mr Pattison ended up too upset to talk when approached by the Mail.

Neighbours of their aged property in Caterham have been battling to arrive to phrases with the tragedy.

The rifle vary, which is just seconds away from the relatives property on foot, is not portion of the criminal offense scene, law enforcement stated on Monday 

Emma Pattison and her partner George (entrance row, right) pictured at a current faculty party. The few have been located lifeless in the headteacher’s house at Epsom School

Mrs Pattison appearing on a pupil podcast in December, when she spoke of experiencing some ‘really huge changes’ together with using new employment, shifting house and finding a new puppy

A girl residing future door mentioned: ‘It is just terrible. I utilized to see Emma heading for runs up the lane. She was also a excellent piano player.

‘I did not see George so considerably, he was rather tranquil and stored himself to himself. But their daughter was so happy. You used to hear her taking part in in the backyard, she was always asking them issues and just appeared like a content, inquisitive tiny woman.’

Chloe Rathbown, 27, a nursery employee who made use of to glimpse immediately after Lettie, mentioned she was heartbroken about her dying.

‘They were these kinds of a charming household and Lettie was great in every way,’ she advised The Situations. 

John Wildgoose, the photographer who captured the relatives just previous thirty day period for the school’s announcement of her head-ship, reported Lettie was a ‘little angel’ and that the family had an ‘obvious bond’ and big strategies for the potential.

Mrs Pattison shared a picture of her with a colleague soon after Epsom was named Independent School of the Year 

The headteacher, who was explained by the parent of a former pupil as ‘slight but extremely formidable’, had taken up the function just five months before her death 

Epsom School shared a write-up about the ‘shocking and tragic’ news of the headteacher’s death 

Prior neighbours of the few described Ms Pattison as a warm existence and explained they were being shocked to listen to of the deaths of a ‘normal, satisfied family’.

One particular instructed the Telegraph: ‘You utilised to listen to her taking part in in the yard, she was always inquiring them inquiries and just seemed like a pleased, inquisitive minor girl.’

An additional girl who lived locally extra that Lettie was notably fond of her doggy: ‘She was just a regular, nicely brought-up, lovely very little woman. It is really just tragic.’

Surrey Law enforcement verified that the family’s new pet Labrador, Bella, was staying seemed following by kinfolk.  

Epsom Higher education pupils attended a chapel provider yesterday. Workers are understood to be telling parents they could close early this week for day pupils. The faculty, which teaches additional than 850 boys and girls aged 11 to 18, was the 2022 Independent Faculty of the 12 months and counts BBC journalists Jeremy Vine and Nicholas Witchell among its previous pupils.

An Epsom School spokesman reported: ‘The College community will be coming together to process the information, grieve and spend our respects to a excellent head.’