Police arrest suspect over murder of three pensioners in Exeter

A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the bodies of three men in their 80s were found in Exeter.

The deaths are being treated as suspicious and have been formally linked, Devon and Cornwall police said.

The body of a man aged 80 was found by police at an address in Bonhay Road at around 3pm on Monday.

At 1pm on Tuesday officers were called to a property in Cowick Lane, nearly a mile-and-ahalf away, after the bodies of two men, aged 84, were discovered.

Police arrested the 27-yearold man on Tuesday and he remained in custody yesterday.

One neighbour in Cowick Lane said the two men found dead were twins who were later named locally as Dick and Roger Carter. Floral tributes were later left outside their detached home.

One card said: “To Dick and Roger, we’ll miss your conversations and drives to Sainsbury’s. “RIP, Doris and Fred.” Superintendent Matt Lawler,

Crime scene: Cowick Lane

the local policing commander for Exeter, East and Mid Devon, said: “While a man has been arrested on suspicion of murder in relation to these incidents, we must keep an open mind and avoid speculation as we are still in the very early stages of what has already become a complex investigation.”

Police revealed they decided to link the investigations because of the “level of violence used” but had not established “a clear connection between the parties involved”.

Detective Chief Inspector Roy Linden, from the major crime investigation team, said: “At this time there are several and significant common factors between the two addresses.

“In terms of the level of violence used we decided last night to link the investigations. Originally they were treated as two separate murder investigations. One suspect has been identified and formally arrested yesterday evening.”

Mr Linden would not discuss whether any weapons had been used in the attacks or whether anything was taken.

“There were significant levels of injuries and some commonality between the two incidents, which led us to link those investigations and treat them as one single investigation at the moment,” he said.

Superintendent Lawler told reporters: “Based on our current information we have yet to establish a clear connection between the parties involved.”

Police would not disclose where the suspect was arrested but said they were not “actively” looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.