Two bodies found linked to man’s death in France

THE bodies of a woman and her teenage daughter have been discovered at their million-pound home in Surrey – a day after the girl’s father was found dead in France.
Police at Simmons Gate in Esher, Surrey, where bodies of a mum and daughter were discovered. Picture: SWNSPolice at Simmons Gate in Esher, Surrey, where bodies of a mum and daughter were discovered. Picture: SWNS
Police at Simmons Gate in Esher, Surrey, where bodies of a mum and daughter were discovered. Picture: SWNS

Lisa Anthony, 47, and 14-year-old Ava were discovered by 
police in Esher on Monday morning after concerns were raised about their welfare.

Surrey Police said it was linking the deaths to the discovery of a man’s body in the south of France on Sunday.

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The 50-year-old is understood to be Mrs Anthony’s husband and Ava’s father, who lived with them.

Named in reports as Jonathan Anthony, he was found in Aix en Provence near Marseille and police are treating his death as “unexplained”.

Surrey Police said it was working with the French gendarmerie but it was not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Preston, the senior investigating officer, said: “This is a tragic incident where lives have been lost and our thoughts are with their family and friends at this time.

“We are in the very early stages of the investigation but we do not believe there to be any threat to the wider community and I would like to reassure the public that this is thought to be an isolated incident. We are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.”

The bodies of Ava and Lisa were discovered after officers were called at 10am on Monday to their home in Simmons Gate in Esher – a gated community where homes are valued from £1 million to £2m.

A police car was parked outside the two-storey house yesterday, which is behind a large gate blocking entry into the road.

A young girl arrived with a man and woman by car to pay tribute to Ava and Mrs Anthony. The male well-wisher left two sunflowers and a Mickey Mouse teddy with a note.

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Addressed to Ava and Lisa, it read: “Thank you so much for all the fun and joy that you have brought to our lives.

“We love you so much and will miss you forever.”

A number of the family’s neighbours drove past reporters gathered outside but declined to speak.

Guildford High School, where Ava is believed to have been a pupil, declined to comment yesterday after it was reported that staff there raised the alarm.

Ava previously studied at prestigious pre-preparatory Claremont Fan Court School, which costs around £10,000 a year to attend, but left seven years ago, a spokeswoman for the school said.

Surrey Police said a formal identification had not taken place but they believe that the bodies are that of Ms Anthony and Ava.

The deaths have been reported to the Surrey coroner.

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