Dad kills wife & self as poison pen letter exposes her affair
A HUSBAND stabbed his wife to death and hanged himself after getting an anonymous letter exposing her affair, an inquest heard yesterday.
Richard Pitkin, 65, was told his wife of 37 years, Sarah, 58, had been cheating for months.
They separated, but Sarah went to see him a month after the note arrived at their home in Stowmarket, Suffolk. Son Tommy, in his 20s, later found a note on their bedroom door saying: “Please do not come in. Call the police and say I am sorry they have to deal with this.” Police found Sarah with multiple stab wounds and Richard hanging from a loft hatch. Det Supt David Cutler told the Ipswich inquest the letter “appears to be the catalyst” for their relationship ending. Coroner Dr Peter Dean found Sarah was unlawfully killed and Richard committed suicide.