The distraught family of a headteacher and her daughter who are thought to have been killed by her husband in a murder-suicide have spoken of their heartbreak at the deaths.
Emma Pattison, 45, the head at Epsom College in Surrey, was discovered dead with her husband, George, 39, and their daughter Lettie, 7, in the early hours of last Sunday morning (February 5). George is believed to have shot Emma and their daughter Lettie with a shotgun licensed under his name, at their home on the ground of the exclusive private school.
Surrey Police confirmed not long after the killings that it was being treated as a murder investigation and that investigators believe no one else was involved in the deaths. Today (Wednesday, February 15), Emma's family described little Lettie as an "adorable, curious and vibrant girl" and her mother as "full of optimism".
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In the heartbreaking tribute, they added that the pair were inseparable - and will now remain so forever. In a joint statement, the family said: "To see the esteem in which Emma is held by all who knew her is an enormous comfort.
"She was everything one could hope for in a daughter, sister, mother, wife, friend, teacher and so much more. We are an extremely close family and the family was at the centre of Emma and Lettie’s universe. The Epsom College community had become part of that universe for them both.
"Seven-year-old Lettie was Emma’s pride and joy: an adorable, vibrant little girl with a compelling curiosity, a heart-melting smile and an intellect beyond her years. The two of them were inseparable and we take comfort in that they will remain so.
"Emma had a warm, welcoming smile and sparkling, blue eyes, full of optimism. Over the last eleven days we’ve noticed the sky has been bright blue, with at times a warm glow of pink."
Emma Pattison became the first female head of the private school in Epsom - where fees for full boarders can reach more than £42,000 a year. Until leaving last August, she spent six years as head at Croydon High School in Selsdon, south London, where her daughter had also been a pupil.
Her family went on to say they had received a lot of support and messages from the community since the tragic killings. They added: "We, the family of Emma and Lettie, would like to express our deepest, heartfelt thanks for the overwhelming support we have received over the past 11 days.
"Thank you to the immeasurable number of people and institutions who have written messages, sent flowers, paid tributes, held vigils or otherwise taken time to remember Emma and Lettie. We would like to thank Surrey Police for their sensitive and thorough handling of the ongoing investigation into this horrendous tragedy and to the Epsom College Community, Croydon High and Danes Hill schools for their invaluable support.
"Thank you also to the media who have, largely, respected our privacy at this difficult time: we ask that they continue to do so."
In the initial days after their deaths, mourners left tributes, cards and flowers outside Croydon High School. Tributes were left at the school gates with bunches of flowers left by distraught former school friends of the youngster.
One card was attached to one bunch that read, "fly high in heaven Lettie" in a blue and purple hot air balloon. Another card written by an adult said: "Emma Pattison, your character and talents will inspire others for many years. Thank you."
The flag of Empson College was left flying at half mast in the days after the tragedy.
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