Stourbridge triple stabbing: Family 'took in homeless person at Christmas' as tributes pour in
A family who were brutally stabbed leaving a mother and her 13-year-old son dead and the boy’s father fighting for his life reportedly took in a homeless person around Christmas time.
It is not yet known if the homeless person, who is thought to have been taken in at Christmas by the family – named locally as Peter Wilkinson, wife Tracey and their son Pierce (pictured above) – is connected to the stabbing.
However, West Midlands Police told Yahoo News UK this morning it is ‘part of their inquiries’ as investigations into the brutal attack continue.
One man is being questioned after the “horrifying” attack at the home in Stourbridge, West Midlands, which left Tracey and Pierce dead, and Peter in hospital with stab wounds to his chest and back.
A Land Rover stolen from the home on Greyhound Lane, Norton, was “intercepted” by police in a nearby street, and a man thought to be known to the family was detained on suspicion of murder and wounding.
Police have said they understand the suspect was known to the family and may have been living at the address – although he is not a relative – and they do not think the incident was a burglary or a robbery.
A member of staff at The New Inn pub, where the family drank, said they were very caring people who took in a homeless person around Christmas time, something a West Midlands Police spokesman said he could not comment but police are still investigating the relationship between all those involved.
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Tributes have poured in for the family in the wake of what police described as the “horrific and heart-breaking” killings, with people describing them as “Good Samaritans” with “hearts of gold” .
Flowers with messages left outside the family home – some by school friends – say: “RIP Pierce, you will never be forgotten. We had so many good memories and I hope your safe up their, fly high bro.”
Another reads: “The most amazing family! So many memories that we will always treasure! Gone but never forgotten.”
Regulars at the family’s local pub the New Inn described the couple, who also have another child, as a “very charitable” and said they had taken in the homeless man in December.
One local, who didn’t want to be named, said: “They were a lovely family, it is just awful what’s happened. They were well known and liked by everyone. No-one had a bad word to say about them.
“They had taken in a homeless person around Christmas time and there’s rumours that he is the one who has done this.
“They were a very charitable couple, they were Good Samaritans and Tracey had a heart of gold.
“It doesn’t surprise me at all that they would open up their home to somebody in need and provide them with a roof over their head. It was just in their nature. They were just so kind.”
Local Tory councillor Colin Elcock added: “I came down because I heard something terrible had happened from a colleague, but it wasn’t until I got here that I realised how terrible.
“I had only been with Tracey last week at a ward meeting where she was, as always, very supportive of me. They were a lovely couple. Peter was a businessman, and used to travel a lot to the USA and Europe with his job.”
Redhill School, where Pierce was a pupil, said pupils and staff would have access to psychological help and parents would be given guidance on how to support their children.
A statement said: “We have no further details from the police at this time and clearly their investigation is at a very early stage. We will keep people updated as we receive further information.
“Pupils and staff who need support will have access to psychological first aid provided by Dudley Educational psychology service.
“We will also be providing parents with guidance on how to support their children.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this.”