'All my babies are dead' - grandmother finds family dead in home

A grandmother ran from a house screaming “all my babies are dead” after finding the bodies of her two young granddaughters and their parents inside.

By John Bingham, Caroline Gammell, Andy Bloxham
Published: 7:30AM BST 27 Jul 2010

Two-year-old Phoebe Case and her one-year-old sister Nereya were found lying side-by-side in bed where they had been stabbed to death with their father father, Andrew, hanging next to them.

His wife, Victoria, 31, was found in the dining room with her throat slit.

Detectives are investigating whether Mr Case, murdered his wife and children before taking his own life at the family home in Fordingbridge in the New Forest, Hampshire.

Neighbours and friends described the couple, who had been together for 15 years and married for 10, as appearing deeply in love and like the “perfect family”.

They had just returned from a week’s holiday in Weymouth with the children.

Only eight days ago Mr Case posted an exuberant message on his page on Facebook quoting the Cliff Richard song Summer Holiday, speaking of how much he was looking forward to the break.

Earlier he posted photographs online of him opening Easter eggs with his "two beautiful daughters".

But there were claims that the 33 year-old delivery driver had been struggling with financial problems.

Friends at the nursery Mrs Case ran at the local church, St Aldhelm's, became alarmed when she did not arrive.

She had been due to bring Nereya along for the first time for her own induction.

Meanwhile the girls grandmother, who often babysits on a Monday, had also become concerned because she had not been able to get through by phone and went to investigate.

"I heard The childrens' grandmother screaming in the street,” Alayna Brooks, 53, a neighbour, said last night.

“She was sobbing 'My babies are dead, my babies are dead.'

"I said 'Don't be silly.' She was in a state of shock."

But Mrs Brooks followed her into the house and found the four occupants dead.

“There were childrens' toys scattered on the floor but it didn't look like there had been a struggle,” she said.

"There was no blood on the walls or anything like that. It was a peaceful scene.

"Then I turned and looked into the dining room and I saw the mum's body lying on the floor. She had a bag over her face.

"It was absolutely shocking. I wanted to find the babies so I went straight upstairs to the bedrooms.

"That's when I saw Andy hanging in a bedroom. I didn't look him straight in the face - I couldn't.

“I just shook his leg and said 'Wake up - you've got a family.'

"The girls were behind him on the bed, side by side. They look beautiful like they were asleep …I went downstairs and cradled the grandmother in my arms.”

She added: They seemed like the happiest couple on earth. So loved up. If I had a marriage I would have wanted their marriage.

"They were lovely neighbours and they seemed like the perfect family.”

The couple who had recently moved to town saying they felt isolated after living in a larger house in the countryside which Mr Case had renovated himself.

“They never argued and seemed very happy,” said Geoff Scott, 62, their former neighbour.

“I would see her out playing with her kids and she seemed like a very pleasant woman.

“I cannot understand how this could have happened.”

From: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/7911452/All-my-babies-are-dead-grandmother-finds-family-dead-in-home.html