Murder suspect, 37, remains on a life support machine in hospital following deaths of two women aged 32 and 76
- Two women killed and a man was seriously injured at a home in Crawley Down
- Amy Appleton, 32, worked as teacher at Copthorne Church of England School
- Sandra Seagrave, 76, was also killed when she tried to intervene to save her
A murder suspect remains on a life-support machine in hospital as two women killed before Christmas were officially named by police.
Sandy Seagrave, 76, and Amy Appleton, 32, were found dead in the street at Hazel Way, Crawley, last Sunday.
A 37-year-old man was discovered inside a property with serious injuries and was arrested on suspicion of murder. He is currently in a critical condition at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.
Crawley Down murder victim Amy Appleton (right) pictured at her graduation in 2010. Sandra Seagrave, the other victim (left) is believed to have intervened to try and stop the bloodbath that unfolded on Hazel Way in Crawley Down, West Sussex, at around 10.20am December 22
The family of a 76-year-old woman murdered in a West Sussex village have said she was ‘not afraid of anything’ amid reports she stepped in to try to save a teacher who was also killed.
Sandy Seagrave and 32-year-old Amy Appleton, who taught at Copthorne Church of England Junior School, were found dead outside a semi-detached house in a quiet street in Crawley Down on Sunday.
Ms Seagrave’s family paid tribute to her in a statement on Friday after reports suggested she was killed after trying to come to Ms Appleton’s aid.
Amy Appleton pictured at her graduation in 2010 with her mother Linda
‘She was one of a kind, an eccentric character who was stubbornly independent, feisty, brave and not afraid of anything,’ they said.
‘She was devoted to children and especially animals, including a wild fox who we are continuing to feed now that she has gone.’
Sussex Police have not yet released details of how the two women died, but said it was not a knife attack and that one of the victims was known to the suspect.
Crawley Down murder victim Amy Appleton pictured with her husband Daniel at her mother Linda’s second wedding in 2009
Crawley Down murder victim Amy Appleton pictured at her graduation in 2010 with her husband Daniel Appleton
Detective chief inspector Chris Friday said: ‘I extend my heartfelt sympathies to their families, who are being supported by specialist trained officers. I ask that people respect their privacy at this distressing time.
Chief superintendent Jerry Westerman, West Sussex divisional commander, said: ‘This was an isolated, yet shocking incident that has shaken many in the community.
‘We are thankful to them for supporting officers as they go about their enquiries and anyone wants to talk to them about their concerns or if they have any information they should talk with them.’
People place flowers at the scene on Hazel Way in Crawley Down, West Sussex, on Christmas Eve