Care probe after Dartmoor deaths

Source BBC News@ tienganhvui.com

13 July 2013 Last updated at 07:23 ET

Katherine Hooper's two-year-old son was found dead at her Paignton home

An investigation has started into whether authorities failed a 24-year-old mother who died after falling 80-100ft (24-30m) from a Dartmoor tor.

Katherine Hooper and son Joshua, five, died after falling at Haytor.

The body of Ms Hooper's two-year-old son was later found at her home in Dukes Close, Paignton.

Police have launched a murder investigation, but said at this stage they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed the family had been the subject of a Safeguarding Partnership intervention and a serious case review would be launched.

The Safeguarding Partnership, an alliance including the council, NHS and the police, is alerted when a person may be in need of community care services because of mental illness or abuse.

'Tragic deaths'

Serious case reviews are launched when a child dies or is seriously harmed and there are signs of abuse or neglect.

Devon and Cornwall Police said: "Police investigating the tragic deaths of Katherine Hooper and her two sons Josh Patterson and Sam Patterson have confirmed that the family were subject of Safeguarding Partnership Intervention prior to their untimely deaths.

"The investigation will now be referred to a Serious Case Review process as per national good practice."

Ms Hooper was the subject of a police search earlier in the year after she went missing with her two children in April.

The Dartmoor Rescue Group joined the search before she was found "safe and well" 24 hours later in Paignton.

Police search

On Friday, Ms Hooper's estranged partner Neil Patterson, 52, said he was "devastated" that the "three most important and cherished people in my life had been taken from me".

Katherine Hooper with sons Joshua, who died with her at Haytor and Samuel who was found dead at her home in Paignton

Shortly before 12:00 BST on Friday an air ambulance, a police helicopter, park rangers and members of the Dartmoor Rescue Group went to Haytor after an incident was reported.

Officers found two bodies when they arrived at the granite peak, which is more than 1,475ft (450m) above sea level.

Officers then went to the woman's home, where the body of the two-year-old boy was discovered.

Friends and neighbours have been leaving flowers at the property.

Jonathan Grant said: "It's tragic what happened.

"No-one can believe it and everybody is devastated, so devastated."

Đăng ký: Tieng Anh Vui

Posted in: BBC News,World News of the Day