Rethishkumar Pullarkattil and family (800x450)

Mother and daughters found dead at home named

Police have named a man found dead near a reservoir and his twin daughters and their mother who were discovered at a nearby home.

Officers made the first discoveries on Tuesday 12th May after concerns were raised about the welfare of the residents living at a house in Grove Road, Chadwell Heath, east London.

Upon forcing their way in, police found the bodies of the mother Shighi Rethishkumar, 37, and two daughters, Niya and Neha aged 13.

The father, Rethishkumar Pullarkattil, 44, who was missing from the property, was found hanged around six miles away at Woodford Reservoir, Walthamstow, at 8.17am on Wednesday 13th May.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detective Superintendent Kenny McDonald said: “At this stage we are awaiting the outcome of the post-mortems to confirm cause of death, which will provide further evidence of what has taken place inside the house at Grove Road.

“However, at this stage in our ongoing investigation we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.”

Police said there was no response or sign of any disturbance when they initially attended the property on Monday evening.

The matter has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission and the Metropolitan Police’s directorate of professional standards is reviewing the police response.
Scotland Yard said the last confirmed sighting of the family was on Sunday.

Mother-of-two Zoya Habibani, 24, lives in the same block as the family and described them as ‘really friendly’, adding: “It’s really sad.”

She said she thought the family were originally from India.
Bobby Singh, 41, who manages a garage next to the flats, said he would see the twins going to school in the mornings.

He described them as ‘very reserved’ and ‘polite’, adding that he did not see their father very much.
“The kids always walked in front of their mother. The mother was always a couple of steps behind,” he said.

“I hope someone finds out the answers. I hope they rest in peace as well.”