An entire family, mother, father and terminally ill child, allegedly committed suicide by jumping from the 36th floor
Two parents and their terminally ill nine-year-old son have died after falling from a luxury tower block in south London, in what authorities are investigating as a possible murder-suicide.
The victims, a couple and their son, lived on the 36th floor of a 45-storey residential tower in the Elephant and Castle area, according to Daily Mail Online.
The intervention teams were alerted in the morning of May 27 that several people had fallen from the height of the skyscraper. Despite the application of resuscitation maneuvers, all three victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
The Metropolitan Police initially described the deaths as “unexpected” and opened an investigation, stating that there were no other injuries and that the victims' relatives had been informed and were receiving specialist support.
Suspicions and testimonies
The investigation has not yet been completed, but preliminary indications suggest a murder-suicide. Local MP Neil Coyle told the British press that the child's serious health condition could have contributed to the extreme decision.
And some tenants of the building look with skepticism at the option of a simple accidental fall. According to them, the balconies are fitted with high, chest-high glass panels, which would make it difficult for an involuntary fall, even for an adult.
Several residents said that in the weeks leading up to the tragedy, they frequently heard screaming and arguing from the family's apartment. A neighbor stated that the noises suddenly stopped on the day of the incident and that the police questioned the neighbors about these episodes.
The building's administrators sent a message to tenants the day after the tragedy, confirming the incident and announcing an increased police presence in the area. The communication states that the investigation is ongoing and that there will be temporary access restrictions and road closures.
An exclusive complex
The “UNCLE” tower, where the tragedy took place, is a luxury building with approximately 458 apartments, equipped with facilities such as a fitness room, co-working spaces, underground parking and a “sky lounge” with a panoramic view of London.
The “UNCLE” tower, where the tragedy took place. PHOTO captured by BBC FB
The flats are mostly occupied by international students and young professionals, with rents reaching around £2,700 for a studio and £3,800 for a two-bedroom flat. The community is described by tenants as being fragmented, where neighbors rarely know each other.
The authorities are continuing the investigation to establish the exact circumstances of the tragedy, and until they are completed no official conclusions have been made public. Police are not currently looking for other people involved in the incident.
We remind you that in August 2015, a mother in the US fatally shot her cancer-stricken husband and two children before committing suicide. The woman was suffering from depression.
