Epsom College deaths: Emma Pattison and daughter shot by husband police believe, with murder investigation launched

The head teacher of Epsom College was shot dead by her husband, before he killed their daughter and took his own life with the same gun, police believe.

Police confirmed they were treating the deaths as part of a murder investigation after Emma Pattison, her seven-year-old daughter Lettie and husband George were found dead at their home in the grounds of independent Epsom College in the early hours of Sunday.

The force said a firearm licensed to Mr Pattison, 39, was recovered from the scene, but the cause of death would not be confirmed until post-mortems had been completed later this week.

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Surrey Police said it had contact with Mr Pattison on Thursday last week after he notified officers of a change in address. The force has subsequently made a self-referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

The head teacher of Epsom College was shot dead by her husband, before he killed their daughter and took his own life with the same gun, police believe.The head teacher of Epsom College was shot dead by her husband, before he killed their daughter and took his own life with the same gun, police believe.
The head teacher of Epsom College was shot dead by her husband, before he killed their daughter and took his own life with the same gun, police believe.

The force added the firing range at the school did not form part of the crime scene and was not a line of inquiry in the investigation.

Detective Chief Inspector Kimball Edey, senior investigating officer on the case, said: “This is an incredibly traumatic incident and we are working around the clock to investigate and understand the exact circumstances which led to this point.

“We understand the public concern and upset, and we will clarify what we can, when we can, while respecting the right to a level of privacy for the families of those who have lost their lives.

“We are co-operating fully with the IOPC in relation to the referral we have made, and we await the outcome of its assessment of what further action may be required. Until this has been completed, we will be unable to provide further details on a number of matters.”

It is understood Mr Pattison's gun licence had been recently updated and Surrey Police made a routine phone call to the 39-year-old chartered accountant in the days preceding the killings, because the details of his new home address needed to be checked.

The Times reported Mrs Pattison had contacted a close relative with concerns about her husband in the hours before the killings, and when they arrived at the house they found all three members of the family dead.

A statement from the police said: “We had contact with George on Thursday, February 2 after he notified us of a previous change of address, as is routine. Due to the short period of time between that contact and this incident, we have made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.”

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The IOPC said it was assessing the information available to decide if any further action is necessary.

Changes were made to gun licencing systems in the wake of shooting tragedies in Plymouth and West Sussex, with new digital markers put in place to flag up to GPs relevant medical changes in patients with firearms licences.

Mrs Pattison, 45, became Epsom’s first female head in September last year after six years as headteacher of Croydon High School in south London.

Boarding students at the college pay more than £42,000 a year and its alumni include Conservative MP Sir Michael Fallon, broadcaster Jeremy Vine and comedian Tim Vine.

Mrs Pattison’s husband George was a chartered accountant who was director of a management consultancy called Tanglewood 2016, according to Companies House.

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