By Gavin Mackintosh-
Police are investigating the strong possibility that the husband of Epsom College’s late headteacher killed his wife and seven-year-old daughter before committing suicide, according to reports.
Police have not yet revealed their reasons for coming to that conclusions, but have clearly expressed confidence there are no other parties involved in the multiple killings.
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Cops believed George Pattison killed his family members at their home in Surrey where they were found on Sunday, the BBC reports, indicating a serious case of domestic violence.
Earlier reports said a staff member at the school called police after hearing gunshots on the school grounds.
Cops have not revealed whether the family had a history of domestic violence.
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The school’s rifle range was among buildings cordoned off, but The Independent understands that this was due to its proximity to the Pattinson’ home and is not part of the investigation.
Dr Alastair Wells, chair of the board of governors at Epsom College expressed the school’s “utter shock and disbelief” to the incident.
“Our immediate thoughts and condolences are with Emma’s family, friends and loved ones, and to the many pupils and colleagues whose lives she enriched throughout her distinguished career,” he said.
Not long before she was found dead alongside her husband and seven-year-old daughter, the headteacher of Epsom College said her family had been going through changes.
Emma Pattison, 45, was just six months into her post as the Surrey private school’s first-ever female head.
In a podcast for pupils, she said: “It’s been a really big change for my family,” she said, sharing that they have moved house and bought a dog in the area.
oarding students at the college pay more than £42,000 a year and its alumni include Conservative MP Sir Michael Fallon and broadcaster Jeremy Vine.
Insp Jon Vale, Epsom and Ewell’s borough commander, said: “We’re aware that this tragic incident will have caused concern and upset in the local community.
Following the announcement of her death, tributes were paid to the well loved headteacher.
The GDST chief executive of the Girls’ Day School Trust community while at Croydon high school, where she had previously spent six years as head described her “as a talented head and teacher and a dear friend to many of us”.
“She touched the lives of all of us with her energy, wisdom and kindness during her six years as head of Croydon high school and the school will always bear the legacy of her inspiring leadership.”
Her husband was the director of a management consultancy firm called Tanglewood 2016, according to Companies House.
In a pupil-led Epsom Insight podcast recorded in December, Pattison spoke of joining the school and outlined the “big changes” her family had recently undergone.
She said: “It’s been wonderful, in terms of transition it has been a really big change for my family, so we’ve obviously moved house, we’ve bought a dog, I’ve got a new job, my husband has got a new job – which wasn’t meant to happen but did. And my daughter has started a new school, so there’s been a lot of change for us as a family, but it’s been wonderful, the college has been so supportive.”
Dr Alastair Wells, the chair of the board of governors at Epsom College, said the news had been met with “utter shock and disbelief.”
“Our immediate thoughts and condolences are with Emma’s family, friends and loved ones, and to the many pupils and colleagues whose lives she enriched throughout her distinguished career.
“Emma was a wonderful teacher, but most of all she was a delightful person.”
The local MP, Chris Grayling, called the deaths “an appalling tragedy”, adding: “I know everyone locally will be shocked about what has happened.”
Epsom College said on Twitter it was “heartbreaking” news, and that staff and pupils would pay their respects to their “wonderful head” on Monday. The focus was on the welfare and wellbeing of
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