ENDERS STAR'S BODY IN GARDEN
Murder cops also find her 2 young sons in shallow grave
Murder squad police searching for missing East-Enders actress Sian Blake and her young sons found three bodies yesterday.The gruesome discovery - in the back garden of the star's home - sparked a major search for her partner Arthur Simpson-Kent.
THREE bodies have been found in the garden of missing EastEnders star Sian Blake.
The former actor, who played Frankie Pierre in the mid1990s, vanished with her sons Zach and Amon last month.
Police have launched a murder hunt and were last night hunting for her partner Arthur SimpsonKent, the boys’ father.
He has not been seen since he was interviewed on December 16.
Officers discovered the bodies in 43-year-old Sian’s back garden in Erith, Kent, yesterday afternoon.
Neighbour Sam Sanni-Alashe was in tears when he heard the news. He said: “It is really hurtful. I know the lady.
“I see the children playing at the back. I say hello all the time.
“We are not close but she was a very happy woman.
“This is a disaster and it is awful for the community.
“I can see everything in the garden but these last few days I have chosen not to look.
“When my son finds out he will be terrified.”
Another neighbour Hannah Cutting, 18, said: “I would see the kids playing at the window, then we were worried when police were there 24/7.
“It’s awful just to think that something can happen on your doorstep and you see people and you have no idea what’s going on.”
At her home in east London, Sian’s mother Lyndall said she was “doing OK” despite the horrific discovery.
Sian, who became a sign language teacher, vanished with Zachary, eight, and Amon, four, on December 13.
She suffered from motor neurone disease, a fatal condition that affects the brain and spinal cord. Sian was said to be looking “very frail” before she went missing.
Her car was found abandoned in Bethnal Green, east London, over the weekend.
Police say they do not know why the vehicle was parked there or by whom.
Outside New Scotland Yard, Detective Superintendent Paul Monk said: “Sadly, today we found three bodies around lunchtime in the back garden of their home address and, as such, this is now a murder investigation.
“Our efforts are continuing to find Arthur Simpson-Kent.
“Our appeal is to anyone who may know his current whereabouts or can assist us in finding him.
“We do need to speak to him as a matter of urgency. “
Officers confirmed that murder squad detectives had taken over the case. Neighbours said police had been at the house for several days.
Scotland Yard could be referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission over their handling of the case.
Sian is said to have been with Simpson-Kent, 48, when she was last seen, loading bags into the boot of her car.
Police interviewed him three days later and he is now the prime suspect in the case and a “high risk” missing person.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “The case has not been referred to the IPCC at this stage.
“However, the Directorate of Professional Standards was informed on January 4 and they are now working with the investigation team to fully understand the timeline of interaction with the family.”
The DPS investigates complaints against the professional conduct of police officers.