Police have been granted more time to question a man over the murders of a vicar in Gloucestershire and a 77-year-old woman in Worcestershire.
Stephen Farrow, 47, was detained in Folkestone initially in connection with the killing of Reverend John Suddards.
The 59-year-old clergyman was found stabbed to death at his vicarage in Thornbury, Gloucestershire, last Tuesday.
Farrow is also being quizzed over the death of Betty Yates, 77, whose body was found with fatal knife wounds at her Bewdley home near the River Severn in January.
An Avon and Somerset Police spokeswoman said: "Police have obtained a further warrant of detention in relation to the 47-year-old man currently in custody.
"This warrant is for an additional 36 hours. This takes us until the early hours of Wednesday morning."
The force confirmed that the custody extension would be used to question Farrow over the two murders.
Workmen found Mr Suddards' body upon arrival at the vicarage next to St Mary's Church in Castle Street, where he had only taken up his post in July.
The 36-hour extension to quiz Farrow came ahead of a parishioners' planned private candlelight vigil at St Mary's Church tonight to remember Mr Suddards.
The Venerable Geoffrey Sidaway, Archdeacon of Gloucester , said the clergy should continue to open their doors to "people who are distressed and angry" in the wake of Mr Suddards' murder.
"By the nature of the position, clergy are often dealing with people who are distressed and angry, and that can put us in very vulnerable situations," he said.
"The door must stay open - that is the whole point of the job. We need to be a church with an open door which is there to welcome and to help everyone."
Mrs Yates was found dead at the bottom of stairs at her home on the banks of the River Severn on January 4, having been killed two days earlier.
Her son and daughter previously made an emotional appeal for help to bring their mother's killer to justice.
1 comment