Mother hangs herself after killing her two children

By STEPHEN WRIGHT, DAN NEWLING and ANDREW LEVY - More by this author » Last updated at 21:20pm on 2nd March 2007 A mother suffering from post-natal depression killed her two young sons before hanging herself in the family home, it emerged yesterday.

The bodies of Susan Talby, 41, and her sons Joseph, four, and Paul, two, were found by her husband Richard when he came home from work.

A tribute to the family

He made desperate attempts to revive his family as police and three ambulance crews rushed to the scene.

But by the time they arrived it was too late.

Mr Talby, 38, from Werrington, Peterborough, was being comforted by relatives yesterday as police tried to establish what had driven his wife to take her own life and those of her children.

House of horror: Police outside the semi where three died

Detectives are treating the tragedy as murder and suicide. They are examining medical files on Mrs Talby, who is known to have suffered post-natal depression following the birth of her second son.

It has emerged that she left a suicide note at the house.

Sources revealed her body was found hanging in the landing, while Joseph and Paul were discovered in separate bedrooms. One was under the bed covers. It is thought they were suffocated to death.

A friend of the family revealed yesterday that after discovering the bodies Mr Talby came running out of the house and alerted a neighbour.

Mr Talby's father John revealed his daughter-in-law had suffered from depression, but said he did not know whether her illness had caused her to kill herself and her children.

"Susan had suffered with post-natal depression nearly two years ago. But she had greatly improved since," he said. "They had not had any arguments recently. This came completely out of the blue."

Mr Talby said his son - a keen runner and salesman for a plastics manufacturer - was "devastated" after making the horrifying discovery shortly after 5pm on Thursday.

He added: "We are a very close family. My wife and I saw the children most weekends and sometimes we looked after them for a week or so.

"They were lovely boys. Joseph was doing very well and school and Paul was about to start at his playgroup."

Neighbour Fiona France, 37, said she was finding it difficult to comprehend what had happened. "We're bewildered, shocked," she said. "We can't take it in. They were a lovely couple. Two lovely boys."

Her husband Steve, 40, a printer, added: "They appeared to be a normal family. They seemed happy.

"The boys were typical football-mad little boys. They used to play with our little boy and you'd see them all out playing football together. It's hard to take in."

Mr and Mrs Talby married in St Oswald's Catholic Church in Peterborough in August 1999.

They moved into the semidetached house in Werrington village, one of the most desirable parts of the city, the following December.

Their first son, Joseph, was born in the city in April 2002. Paul followed in September 2004.

Mrs Talby, a former nurse, worked as a shop assistant at branch of Next in Peterborough after the children were born.

Mrs Talby's mother, Susan Hefford, lives a short distance away with her son, Paul, 40. Both were too distressed to talk yesterday.

Family friend Lynda Woolnough said: "Sue used to come round her regularly to visit her mum and brother. She was a very friendly and gentle person and always seemed well-balanced. The boys were really sweet.

"They seemed happy and healthy and the family seemed happy. There was no neglect or anything like that."

Detective Chief Inspector Jason Gordon said: "Late yesterday afternoon police were contacted by the ambulance control centre and when police turned up they found three bodies in the house.

"One was an adult female and two were young children. At this time I would rather not speculate but we are investigating circumstances surrounding the deaths.

"The bodies were discovered by the father when he returned from work.

"He is obviously totally traumatised by the whole incident but, having said that, he is assisting us as a witness and working closely with the family liaison officer."

Susan Talby's colleagues at Next said they had no idea of any history of depression or illness during the time she worked for the company.

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