A DESPERATE mum “struggling to cope” is feared to have killed her son before taking her own life, shocked neighbours said today.
The 30-year-old woman, believed to be Portuguese, was found dead with her 10-year-old boy at their home in Leeds, West Yorkshire, after concerned locals raised the alarm.
Her first floor flat in the suburb of Holbeck remained sealed off today with a police presence.
Several tributes were left by mourners at the scene, including one from a neighbour, saying: “RIP little man. Fly high with the angels and your mum.”
A local said: “It is a terribly sad situation. We heard that the mam was struggling to cope with her young lad.
"He was autistic and she found his condition challenging at times.
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“She was a good mum and we often saw her walking around the estate with her son. He would always stop to stroke my little dog in the garden.”
Mum-of-two Julie told The Sun Online: “We heard she was suffering from depression and it all got too much for her. She was a single mum and lived alone with her son Freddie.
“She kept herself to herself and no one round here really knew her."
Julie added: “She was Portuguese and had moved here for two or three years. We don’t know if she ever got the help she needed.
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“We heard that the boy had been killed, bless him, and then she killed herself.
“I can’t think of anything more tragic.”
Police raced to the council flat in Cross Ingram Road after being alerted by worried neighbours on Friday evening.
Cops confirmed investigating the suspected murder-suicide said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with thee double deaths.
Formal identification of the pair is yet to take place.
A tearful neighbour living two doors away told how his daughter used to play outside with the boy.
He said he and his partner didn’t know the mum “because she rarely went out but we would wave and say Hello on the rare occasions we saw her.”
It is a terribly sad situation. We heard that the mam was struggling to cope with her young lad. He was autistic and she found his condition challenging at times.
The man added: “It is an awful incident to have happened on our doorsteps and we feel saddened and very sorry for her extended family.
“The boy used to play out with our daughter, not so much this year but many times last summer.
“The little community here is shocked.
“We didn’t see or hear anything but became aware of the tragedy when police arrived last night.
“They have sealed off her flat on the first floor and the one below.”
A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: "At about 9pm last night, officers were attending an address in Cross Ingram Road, Holbeck, Leeds, following concerns being raised about the welfare of the occupants.
“A woman and a child were found dead inside the flat.
"Although formal identification has not yet been completed, they are believed to be a 30-year-old woman and her 10-year-old son, who both lived at the address.
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"While enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of their deaths, officers are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.
"A scene remains in place at the address.”
You’re Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You're Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
- Movember, www.uk.movember.com
- Anxiety UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk, 03444 775 774 Monday-Friday 9.30am-10pm, Saturday/Sunday 10am-8pm
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