Riddle as man and woman found dead in village on Boxing Day
A MAN and woman were found dead on Boxing Day in a Borders village, sparking a major police investigation.
Kevin Armstrong, 53, and Pauline Cockburn, 48, were discovered at around 3pm at a property in Heiton, outside Kelso, Roxburghshire.
Police last night said the deaths were being treated as unexplained.
But the Major Investigation Team, usually reserved for murder inquiries and complex criminal probes, has been brought in.
Officers had yet to formally identify the dead pair last night, but they were named locally.
It is believed the home where the bodies were found was Mr Armstrong’s.
One local said: ‘The whole village is wondering what has happened and no one seems to know exactly what’s happened.
‘There’s rumours swirling round, but we won’t really know until the police have finished their investigation.
‘The police have been standing in the field behind the property all day and night.’
Mr Armstrong was described as a keen outdoorsman, who worked at builders merchant Travis Perkins and as a greenkeeper at weekends.
Images from his social media pages show he and Miss Cockburn enjoying country pursuits together.
She described herself as a carer in her social media, working for local firm SB Care, and is thought to have had at least three children.
One local described seeing her on Christmas night, just hours before her body was found.
On social media, Gillian Gray wrote: ‘Have no words, only spoke to her Christmas night. Will never forget her, she was a lovely funloving woman.’
A tribute also came from Paul Gresham – Miss Cockburn’s 28-year-old son.
He said: ‘Love you mum more than anything in the world my soulmate, best friend, mum and dad. My world.’
One friend consoled him, writing: ‘Your mum was truly beautiful inside and out, it’s so unbelievable. I can’t imagine what you and your sisters must be going through right now, thinking of you all.’
Another said: ‘Beautiful lady, she was an absolute gem. There’s no words. Just beyond heartbreaking for you all. Stay strong for her and your sisters Paul.’
Linda Murray added: ‘Words cannot express how I feel, I’ve lost two amazing friends. Nothing makes sense anymore, my thoughts are with both families at this horrible time. RIP Pauline and Kevin.’
Another Facebook user, thought to be a relative of Mr Armstrong, wrote online: ‘Not the Christmas I expected, in shock still.
‘I don’t know what happened but I do know there are kids out there that have lost their mummy and dad and we should be thinking of them and their families at this sad time. RIP to you both.’
Keith Hardie of the Major Investigation Team said: ‘I would like to offer my condolences to the families of the man and woman who have sadly died, whilst our inquiries are at an early stage and formal identification is yet to take place, we are satisfied we know who they are and we are providing support to their loved ones.
‘Officers and forensic experts will be on site today carrying out a detailed investigation. The deaths are being treated as unexplained at this stage.’
Superintendent Jim Royan added: ‘We understand that this is a shocking incident for a small, quiet area of the Borders and we will have officers on patrol to provide support to the community as well as the Major Investigation Team probe.
‘I would like to thank the people of Heiton in advance for their patience and cooperation, and please come and speak to one of the team if you have any information that could assist.’
Police asked for anyone with information to come forward and said that a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.
‘Shocking incident for a quiet area’