Nursery worker found murdered ‘may have disturbed killers while they dismembered her father’s body’

Police believe a nursery worker who was found murdered next to her father may have been killed after she disturbed the killers while they tried to dismember his body.

The bodies of mum-of-two Marie Brown, 41, and her father Noel, 69, were found at his home in Deptford, at about 2.45am on Monday morning.

The couple had been strangled and Scotland Yard say Ms Brown may have been killed when she stopped on his flat to check on him.

Metropolitan Police detectives dismissed an earlier theory that Mr Brown was killed because of a large gambling win although he had visited his local betting shop Paddy Power on the day he was last seen alive.

Mr Brown was last seen at 8pm last Thursday and his daughter called win on him at his home in New Butt Lane at midday on Saturday after growing increasingly concerned for his welfare.

Detectives are now appealing for any information about two men who were seen visiting Mr Brown’s flat in the days before the murders.

Most popular on Yahoo News UK

Can you spot the snow leopard waiting to pounce on a herd of sheep?
Man accused of helping would-be terrorists by sharing Prince George’s details online
Migrant sex attacker who was jailed for too long is handed £110,000 compensation by judge
Fake sign language interpreter gatecrashes press conference to deliver nonsense message
‘Sadistic’ Catholic priest found guilty of abusing boys as headmaster of London school

Detective Superintendent Paul Monk said: “Our investigation is fast moving and making progress every day. I want to reassure people that we are doing all we can to find those responsible for the murders of Noel and Marie.

“At this early stage we are keeping an open mind regarding the motive, however it was clear to the responding officers that there were no signs of forced entry to the property.

“One of our key lines of enquiry is to establish if the suspects or suspects were known to Noel and if Marie disturbed them.”

He added that the killers had tried to conceal Mr Brown’s death and there had been an “attempt to dismember his body” after his death.

Officers are now investigating Mr Brown’s background, including a historical conviction which resulted in his name being placed on the Sex Offences Register.

DS Monk added: “This is a deeply distressing time for Noel and Marie’s family as they come to terms with their loss.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the investigation team on 020 8721 4205 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.