Boy, 10, killed by mum, 30, in horrifying ‘murder suicide’ after both found dead at home
A TEN-year-old boy is believed to have been killed by his mum in a suspected murder suicide after they were both found dead at home.
Police investigating the tragedy in Leeds, West Yorks., today revealed they were treating the little boy's death as murder - adding they were not looking for anyone else in connection to the killings.
Cops were rushed to the first floor flat in Holbeck last Thursday, after concerned locals raised the alarm.
They thought the family may have gone home to Portugal as they had not seen them "for a while".
But as weeks passed they grew increasingly "worried" - and in an update today, officers confirmed a murder probe had been launched.
West Yorkshire Police said in a statement: "The death of the boy is subject to a murder investigation.
"While enquiries remain ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the deaths, officers are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident."
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Police raced to the council flat in Cross Ingram Road after being alerted by worried neighbours.
Several tributes were later left at the scene, including one from a neighbour, saying: “RIP little man. Fly high with the angels and your mum.”
One local said: “It is a terribly sad situation. We heard that the mam was struggling to cope with her young lad.
"He was autistic and she found his condition challenging at times.
“She was a good mum and we often saw her walking around the estate with her son. He would always stop to stroke my little dog in the garden.”
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Mum-of-two Julie told The Sun Online: “We heard she was suffering from depression and it all got too much for her.
“She kept herself to herself and no one round here really knew her."
Julie added: “She was Portuguese and had moved here for two or three years. We don’t know if she ever got the help she needed.
“We heard that the boy had been killed, bless him, and then she killed herself.
“I can’t think of anything more tragic.”
Another tearful neighbour living two doors away told how his daughter used to play outside with the boy.
He said he and his partner didn’t know the mum “because she rarely went out but we would wave and say 'hello' on the rare occasions we saw her.”
The man added: “It is an awful incident to have happened on our doorsteps and we feel saddened and very sorry for her extended family.
“The boy used to play out with our daughter, not so much this year but many times last summer.
“The little community here is shocked.
“We didn’t see or hear anything but became aware of the tragedy when police arrived last night.
“They have sealed off her flat on the first floor and the one below.”
A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said last week: "At about 9pm last night, officers were attending an address in Cross Ingram Road, Holbeck, Leeds, following concerns being raised about the welfare of the occupants.
“A woman and a child were found dead inside the flat.
"Although formal identification has not yet been completed, they are believed to be a 30-year-old woman and her 10-year-old son, who both lived at the address.
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"While enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of their deaths, officers are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
"A scene remains in place at the address.”
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.