Heartbroken schoolfriends pay tribute to 11-year-old girl found dead with her little brother and parents just days after hosting a sleepover for her birthday as police probe suspected ‘murder suicide’
- Police called on Friday to concerns of welfare of occupants at house in Bedfont
Heartbroken school children have paid tribute to their ‘really beautiful’ and ‘really kind’ friend who was found dead alongside her mother, father and younger brother in a suspected murder-suicide.
The bodies of Michal Wlodarczyk, 39, his wife Monika, 35, and their children Maja, 11, and Dawid, three, were discovered at their flat in Hounslow, west London earlier this week.
Police forced entry to the upstairs property on Staines Road, Bedfont, on Friday afternoon but nothing could be done to save the family.
Murder detectives said they were not seeking any other suspects in connection with the deaths but were keeping an ‘open mind’.
Children who attended Southville Primary School with Maja revealed today that she had just celebrated her 11th birthday with a big sleepover at the end of May.
A family of four who were found dead in a west London flat on Friday have been named as Michal, 39, (right) and Monika, 35, (second left) Wlodarczyk and their children Maja, 11, and Dawid, three
Today school friends paid tribute to 11-year-old Maja, calling her a ‘really beautiful’ and ‘really kind’ friend
The youngsters said they had only been at an 11th birthday party of Maja a few weeks ago
Sarah Gouveia, 11, said the group of friends played Just Dance and badminton in the garden with Maja’s parents watching.
She also said that the family were really ‘kind’ and would always bring back sweets and lollipops for her friends.
Sarah revealed they would also play sports, including football, regularly together and Maja enjoyed being a goalkeeper.
Sarah added: ‘She was really nice; she would always buy us stuff from the shops.
‘Her mum’s birthday was on the 31st of May. We did Just Dance, we played in the garden.’
Another school friend, who was not named, added: ‘She was really kind and nice, she was helpful with stuff. She was really beautiful.
‘Every time she would go on holiday, she would bring us something back.’
Sarah’s mother Maria Gouveia, 37, previously told how her daughter was in the same year as Maja at Southville Primary School in Feltham, and that she had not been seen since Tuesday, having also missed a football tournament on Wednesday.
She said the parents seemed ‘lovely’ and worked hard while Maja was a ‘beautiful’ girl.
She said: ‘We just knew the parents from school, they seemed lovely though. Really nice, hardworking people. Nice, kind.
‘Maja was a lovely girl, she was so smart. Beautiful girl, strong minded.
‘I still can’t believe it to be honest with you, it seems unreal, terrible.’
Earlier today neighbours told of how they watched the mother playing ‘very happily’ together with her two children just days before their tragic deaths.
Oana Petraru, 31, said she often saw Monika joking and laughing with the children in the evenings and weekends, but rarely saw the father.
Monika with daughter Maja. Today Maja’s school friends to their ‘really beautiful’ and ‘really kind’ friend
Police forced entry to the upstairs property on Staines Road, Befont, on Friday afternoon but nothing could be done to save the family. Pictured: Maja and her little brother Dawid
She said: ‘I just saw the mum because the garden is just out there. I saw her sometimes with the kids outside.
‘They were very happy. She was always playing with them, with the ball, just being a mum, you know?
‘There was nothing strange with them. I don’t know them personally, but she seemed fine.
‘They were laughing and playing in the garden a couple of days ago, the mum and the boy and the girl.
‘They were playing with a ball, they have a trampoline. I can’t see everything because of the fence but I can hear them.
‘She would play with them on the weekends, in the evening. She was always outside with them, as mums do. I saw her but not him.
‘I never saw the dad, only maybe last week they were playing outside and he was up on the shed and he was climbing up to take the balls down.
‘I never heard fighting. When you hear about adults it’s terrible, but when kids are involved.’
Meanwhile, James Hoopa, the father of Maja’s best friend, visited the family home where forensic searches were ongoing yesterday to lay flowers with his family.
He told how his daughter, 11-year-old Jasmine Hoopa, ran home to him on Friday afternoon to tell him: ‘I think something’s happened to Maja.’
Mr Hoopa said: ‘My daughter goes to school with the little girl in the same year.
‘I finished about half six and I came down here and I saw the police cars and everything.
‘I got home and I said well, have you contacted your friend? Is she okay? But you know what children are like, no notice.
‘Then I come back from work today I find out that she’s dead.
Police and forensics at the scene in Hounslow where the family of four was found dead
Neighbours and friends of the family arrived at the scene on Saturday night to leave flowers and tributes
Police are currently investigating the circumstances into the deaths
Monika Wlodarczyk, 35 – neighbours have described the family as ‘absolutely gorgeous’
‘I found out Maja is dead. We know the parents as well, the dad and the mum, they all go out together.
‘[Maja] was just a normal child, growing up, a lovely girl. She’s just a normal child, this is a shock.
‘I don’t know how my daughter is going to get through this because my daughter is very best mates with her.
‘For her to go through this experience, something else as parents that we’ve got to deal with.
‘We’re neighbours, we live across the road, this is a shock – it’s going to take some time to settle into this one.’
His wife added: ‘Occasionally I’d take them out, just me, Maja and Jasmine would go out together.
‘We’d plan to go out, we went to McDonald’s, we went to Nando’s, not long ago we went to Staines shopping.
‘This morning (Sat) she went out. Not long later she came home, I was a bit surprised she came home so quickly.
‘She said to me ‘mum, mum, something’s happened, I think Maja, something’s happened to her’.
‘I said let’s go and check, we saw the article online that they’d passed away.
‘Me, Jasmine, and Jennifer, my daughter, we all rushed down to verify because the description matched them. I thought ‘no, no this is not right’.
‘I just can’t believe it. She was a very brave girl, very mature for her age.
‘It’s just a shock. I don’t know how we’re all going to pull through as family.’
It is understood her teacher called police after hearing nothing from the family for several days.
Speaking outside the family’s home last night, Ms Gouveia said: ‘When I saw the news about the bodies being found I started crying. I thought, it can’t be them.’
Floral tributes were left at the scene of the house in Hounslow, west London on Saturday
A card left outside the family home is believed to be from Maja’s school teacher, who is said to have called police after she had been absent from class since Tuesday
The Metropolitan Police confirmed they are not seeking anyone else in connection with the incident, as a homicide team leads investigations.
Her daughter had attended a sleepover party at the house on May 31, believed to be in celebration of Maja’s 11th birthday.
Ms Gouveia added: ‘It’s tragic, her parents were really good people, hard workers, the mother was a cleaner in a hotel, I think the father was a builder.
‘Maja was a lovely, beautiful girl, with a strong personality, but she had not been in school for a few days.
‘People in her class were texting her, my daughter messaged her on Snapchat, it was not like her to go quiet.
‘I think they were going to Mallorca for the dad’s 40th birthday very soon, that’s where I hoped they were when I heard about this.
‘It’s shocking, the little boy was so sweet, he was going to start nursery in a few months, we are praying for them.’
Describing Maja, she said: ‘She was so bright, very smart, and always smiling.’
Another resident in the Bedfont area who also faces the home said the only time she spoke to Michal was when he threw stones at her cat for defecating in their garden.
Monika pictured with daughter Maja, who recently celebrated her 11th birthday
Maja and her brother Dawid would often play in the garden at weekends, neighbours said
The scene in Bedfont, Hounslow where the family were found dead
A man lays flowers at the scene outside a property where the bodies of four people believed to be from the same family were found dead
Forensic teams carrying equipment arrived at the scene today in Bedfont
Police and forensics teams at the scene where police were called at 3:12pm yesterday to concerns for the welfare of the occupants
Neighbours are mourning the ‘absolutely gorgeous’ family that lived in the west London flat
Felton resident Michael Oban, 56, who lives about half a mile from the property, said he felt ‘disturbed’ by the events.
He added: ‘Whatever the circumstances, the death of four people inside a property really is quite shocking.
‘You have two children in there. It’s always distressing when you hear children lose their life.’
Another next-door neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘They were just normal neighbours – we just had greetings here and there, that kind of stuff.
‘I came home from work and there were police everywhere. It was really busy.. Nothing like that happens here. I have no idea what happened.’
Police said that enquiries are under way in respect of formal identification and informing next of kin.
A woman, who laid flowers at the scene, said the family were eastern European and ‘kept themselves to themselves’
A policeman stood with his armed crossed outside a house while forensic teams examine the property behind him
Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson, local policing commander in west London, spoke to reporters outside the scene
Speaking to reporters at the scene, Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson, local policing commander in west London, said: ‘Our investigation is at a very early stage, and based on our initial enquiries, we are not currently seeking anybody else in connection with the incident.
‘Post-mortem examinations are now being arranged.’
‘I know the shock and distress that this terrible incident will cause among the community in Hounslow and beyond.
‘I can assure local people that specialist officers are working to establish exactly what happened and I will provide further information as soon as I can.
‘I am also aware that this incident will be particularly upsetting for children, and I ask people to please be responsible about what they post on social media, including not naming or speculating as to the names of those who’ve died.
‘There will be additional police officers in the area across the weekend, I urge anyone with information or concerns to speak with those officers.’
Detective Chief Inspector Linda Bradley, from Specialist Crime, said: ‘I can assure local people that specialist detectives are working to establish exactly what happened and I will provide further information as soon as I can.’
She added that police are retaining an ‘open mind’ aorund the circumstances which lead to the four deaths.
People can be seen carrying forensic equipment towards the house in Bedfont
Forensics teams can be seen exmaining the top floor flat of the house
One officer was pictured outside the scene at Staines Road earlier this morning
Staines road in Bedfont, Hounslow where police were called to a property yesterday
Labour MP for Feltham and Heston Seema Malhotra tweeted: ‘Everyone will be devastated by news that two adults and two children have found dead in their home in Bedfont.
‘Specialist investigations are ongoing our thoughts are with their family. If you have any information please do get in touch with the police.’
The Leader of Hounslow Council, Councillor Shantanu Rajawat said: ‘I am deeply saddened to hear about the deaths of four people in Feltham North, a truly tragic event.
‘My heartfelt sympathies go out to their family and friends at this extremely difficult time.
‘I know this will send shockwaves across our community but want to assure residents that the police are not currently seeking anybody else in connection with the incident.
‘I want to thank the Metropolitan Police and other blue light services for their work and the Council will continue to support the investigation in every way possible.’
Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to call 101, quoting reference 5135/16Jun.
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