Stansted murders: Suspect, 23, held after man and woman found dead at home in Essex

 
Investigation: police forensic officers at the semi-detached house in Stansted Mountfitchet (Picture: Stephen Huntley)
Stephen Huntley
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A double murder investigation was launched today after a man and woman died at a house in an Essex village.

Police called to the semi-detached home in Stansted Mountfitchet found the victims injured inside. Ambulance crews also rushed to the house but the pair were declared dead at the scene.

Today police forensic teams were seen entering the house in Bentfield Gardens, a quiet cul-de-sac close to a cricket club.

Neighbours said they feared the victims were a 54-year-old woman who lived at the property and a 58-year-old man said to be her partner.

Essex police said a 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently in custody. The force has not confirmed how the victims died but it is understood they and the suspect were known to each other.

One neighbour said: “They were quiet people. We heard a helicopter last night and then there were dogs and police everywhere. This kind of stuff just doesn’t happen around here. The whole community is in shock. This is a quiet and peaceful place.”

Officers were visiting people in the village, about a mile and a half from Stansted Airport, to offer reassurances, saying they were not looking for anyone else connected to the attack.

An Essex police spokeswoman said: “Police were contacted just before 11pm last night and attended an address in Bentfield Gardens alongside the ambulance service to find a man and a woman injured inside.

“Sadly both were pronounced dead at the scene. A 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently in custody. Anyone with any information is asked to contact DCI Simon Werrett at the Brentwood major investigation team on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

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