BOY, TWO, IS FOUND DEAD IN EMPTY HOUSE
MAN, 31, ARRESTED AS MURDER INQUIRY LAUNCHED
A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a two-yearold boy was found dead in an empty house.
The toddler’s body was discovered at the smart semi-detached house in Wythenshawe in the early hours of Sunday.
Officers were called to the property on Beaford Road following a report of a domestic incident.
When they arrived at 12.05am yesterday they found the body of the young boy inside. It is not yet known if he was alone when he died.
They learned a man and woman had left the address and gone to hospital.
Formal identification and a Home Office post-mortem are yet to take place and police are unable to say any more about the fatal injuries the child suffered.
A woman was in hospital being treated for serious injuries following the incident last night.
She is due to be questioned by police ‘when appropriate.’
Her age and relationship to the toddler have not yet been clarified by Greater Manchester Police.
Detectives were yesterday due to quiz a 31-year-old man, who was arrested on suspicion of murder.
He remained in police custody last night.
Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the death at this stage. Supt John-Paul Ruffle said a team of detectives are working on the case and urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward.
He said: “This is an absolutely tragic case and I know the community will be horrified and saddened to hear the tragic news and our thoughts at this time are with the family, friends and all others within the local community who have been affected by this incident.
“I want to offer my reassurances that we’ve launched a full murder investigation and have a full team of detectives working on this case to establish exactly what has led to this young boy’s death.
“Although we have made an arrest I
would stress that this investigation is at an early stage and I would urge people not to speculate on this deeply distressing incident.”
Neighbours on Beaford Road described an overriding sense of shock and sadness at the news.
One resident of the quiet residential estate told the M.E.N. that she saw blood on the pavement after arriving back home at around midnight. The woman added that she often saw the young boy playing happily playing outside on his bike.
A bouquet of flowers and a balloon had been left at the scene on Sunday night.
A police cordon was expected to remain in place at the property while forensics officers scour the house for evidence. Police patrols have been ramped up in the area to offer reassurance to members of the local community.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0161 856 2239, 101 quoting incident number 14 of 27 August 2017, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.