Police investigating the double-shooting near a County Durham golf course believe a man may have killed his ill mother before committing suicide.
Murder-suicide is said to be one of the lines of inquiry being pursued by Durham Police following the discovery of two bodies in a car on Saturday morning.
As reported by the Northern Echo today, one of the bodies found at Crook Golf Club, on the outskirts of Crook, County Durham, was yesterday confirmed as that of 34-year-old Ian Blakey.
He lived in Ennerdale Drive, Crook, and police believe the second body is that of his mother, Jean Blakey, 55, who lived a few streets away in Wheatfield Gardens.
She suffered from Multiple Sclerosis and sources close to the family said Mrs Blakey had endured the incurable condition for several years – describing her as “housebound”.
The sources fear that her debilitating illness may have been behind the double shooting.
A force spokeswoman said that only a coroner can determine what led to their deaths and whether Mrs Blakey’s condition had any influence.
The police spokeswoman yesterday confirmed the male body to be that of Ian Blakey, who was single.
“We are still awaiting formal identification of the woman. Due to the nature of her injuries, this is likely to take a considerable length of time. However, we believe her to be Ian’s mother, Jean Blakey, 55, who lived with her partner in Wheatfield Gardens, Crook.”
Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with their deaths.
She said an investigation was under way and detectives were speaking to friends and associates to try to put together the sequence of events leading up to their deaths.
A post-mortem examination has confirmed that the pair died of gunshot wounds.
Mr Blakey and his mother were discovered in a car at Crook Golf Club on Low Jobs Hill at about 11.30am on Saturday.
Police moved quickly to allay fears that a gunman was on the loose and said the community had never been at any risk.