The police reveal their bodies lay undiscovered ‘for days’
A father of two is suspected of murdering his family in their Bradford home before killing himself.
MailOnline understands Jitendra Lad, 49, may have killed his wife Daksha, 44, and their two children, Trisha, 19, and Nisha, 17, before hanging himself in Blackberry Way, Clayton.
West Yorkshire Police have today launched a murder investigation but said they are not looking for anybody else in relation to the deaths.
Worried neighbours had not seen the family since Friday so called the police who found them dead last night. Detectives believe the bodies may have been in the house ‘for some time’.
Friends are ‘complete shock’ that the ‘well respected’ council payment officer, who was also chairman of the local grammar school association, may have killed his ‘lovely family’.
Close friend Niraj Patel, 49, said : ‘I’ve known him all my life. He was a very happy, easy-going chap, always a smile on his face, they were a lovely family.
‘I’m totally shocked. You’d never believe he would have an ounce of violence in him’.
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Investigation: MailOnline understands Jitendra Lad, 49, centre, may have killed his wife Daksha, 44, centre right, and their two children, Trisha, 19, left, and Nisha, 16, right, before hanging himself
Police probe: West Yorkshire Police confirmed they have launched a murder investigation after the family was found dead at home in the Clayton area of Bradford (pictured)
Investigation: West Yorkshire Police forensic teams arrived at the house this morning to gather evidence, but they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths
In mourning: Tearful friends of the dead teenagers gathered at the home today to pay their respects
Another friend, who did not want to be named, said that Mr Lad was ‘protective’ of his ‘very clever’ daughters and he and his wife were inseparable.
Mr and Mrs Lad both worked for Bradford City Council in good clerical jobs while Trisha was studying medical biochemistry at the University of Leeds and Nisha had just completed her GCSEs at Thornton Grammar School in Bradford.
Post mortems will now be carried out to establish the cause of the deaths and forensics officers are going through the house to try to uncover a motive for the murders, which remains a mystery.
Neighbours said the family, who moved to the area eight years ago, were ‘lovely people’ who had been celebrating Diwali before their deaths.
Floral tributes were already being left while groups of tearful friends gathered outside the home.
Detective Superintendent Simon Atkinson, from West Yorkshire Police’s Protective Services (Crime), said: ‘This is clearly a significant incident and our investigation will be thorough as we piece together the events that have led to the deaths of a local family.
‘The investigation is at an early stage, and while I do not want to speculate around the circumstances leading to the deaths, I am happy to confirm that we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident.’
Damien Miller, Superintendent Operations of Bradford District, who leads neighbourhood policing across the Bradford District, said: ‘Clayton is a close knit community and I understand that local people will be understandably upset by what has taken place and I would like to reassure people there is no wider danger to members of the public.
‘Additional neighbourhood officers are in the area speaking to people and offering reassurance.’
Sisters: Nisha Lad (right) with older sister Trisha, who were both described as bubbly by friends today
Lock down: Police have launched a murder investigation and sealed off the house but believe that the killer came from within the family
The quiet cul-de-sac was cordoned off today but police were letting groups of tearful teenagers up to the modern house.
Shock: Jitendra Lad is believed to have killed his family but his friends called him ‘respectable’ and ‘kind’
A number of uniformed officers and forensic scientists could be seen working in the front garden and around a white hatchback car in the drive.
One of the bodies was taken out of the house and taken away in a private ambulance at around 2pm this afternoon.
After police said they suspected the bodies had been there for some time, neighbours told how they hadn’t seen the family since last week.
Barry Hawkins, 62, said: ‘I knew the dad, I used to deliver papers on the road in the morning.
‘Last time I saw him would have been Friday when I do the papers in the morning.
‘They looked fine. It would have been about 7.30am on Friday morning. I’d say hello and saw both parents.’
Suspect Jitendra was a watersports fanatic who posted on his Facebook profile pictures of him in a scuba diving gear while stating that he had ‘finally qualified as an ocean diver’ in April.
He is thought to be the chairman of the Friends of Thornton Grammar school, where his daughters Nisha and Trisha studied.
The husband and wife both worked for Bradford council as clerical staff.
Councillor David Green, leader of the local authority, said: ‘Local people are shocked and saddened by the news of this terrible event and our sympathy goes out to the wider family, friends and neighbours of this family.
‘The husband and wife of the family… both worked for Bradford Council and councillors and employees are very upset after hearing the dreadful news of their deaths.
‘Obviously, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage as the investigation into how it happened is continuing, but we would urge anyone who may have any information about this tragedy to contact the police immediately’.
Probe: Detective Superintendent Simon Atkinson at a press conference outside the crime scene, would not speculate on how the family died but admitted it was a murder inquiry
Tributes: Shocked and emotional Bradford residents arrive at the house to lay flowers in memory of the family
Disbelief: Neighbours described the family as ‘perfect’ and said they had been celebrating Diwali in recent days
Upset: Neighbours and friends of the family have been visiting the home, with some laying flowers
Jessica Garside, 18, a friend of Trisha, said: ‘She was so lovely. She always had a bright smile on her face.
‘She was always happy.’
She said: ‘Even when I saw her round school she would always smile and say hello and check I’m all right. I think that was the general gist of the family.’
Miss Garside said she thought Trisha left school last year and went to Leeds University.
‘She was really good at science,’ she said.
‘I feel numb at the moment. I don’t feel like it’s happened. I still feel like I’m going to go to the bus stop one day and she’ll be stood there smiling as ever. it’s heartbreaking to know she won’t be. It’s just horrible.’
She added: ‘She’ll be missed dearly. I see pictures on Facebook of her going out in her uni life and she looks happy and now we don’t know what’s happened to her. I just hope there’s a god out there looking after her’.
Couple: A friend said that Mr and Mrs Lad were inseparable and even worked at the same council as clerical staff
Much loved: Friends said today Nisha and Trisha, left and right, they were bereft after their deaths
Crime scene: Sources say that the deaths are linked to the father of the house, who then killed himself
Upset: Neighbours said today there were no clues that a tragedy like this would engulf a ‘lovely’ family
Chris Sampson, headteacher at Thornton Grammar School, where Nisha Lad and her sister Trisha both studied, said: ‘We are deeply shocked and saddened by these tragic deaths. Our thoughts are withthe family’s relatives and friends. We will be helping the police with theirenquiry in any way we can.’
The University of Leeds confirmed Trisha was in the second year of a biochemistry degree.
A spokesman said: ‘This is dreadful and shocking news and our thoughts are with Trisha’s friends and loved ones.
‘Staff are working with the University’s counselling and chaplaincy services to help students who are affected by this tragedy and we will do all we can to support them.’
Melissa Taylor, president of the Faculty of Biological Sciences Society at the university, said on Twitter: ‘Heartbreaking to hear about the death of Trisha Lad, such a lovely, well-liked person. Rest in Peace.’
Steph Mapplebeck said: ‘Trisha Lad was one of the sweetest and kindest people I have met whilst studying at Leeds. What a heartbreaking loss. Rest in peace.’
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