Marie Nash, 40, pictured with her husband Crispin, has been found dead at her home
A mother-of-four was allegedly killed in her home while her children were asleep before police arrested a man on suspicion of murder.
Marie Nash, 40, was found dead at her £500,000 semi-detached home in the Buckinghamshire market town of Beaconsfield shortly after 6am today.
Thames Valley Police officers arrested a 44-year-old man this morning and took him into custody after the alarm was allegedly raised in a 999 call from the property.
Mrs Nash was described by neighbours as a ‘hardworking’ mother to four children aged between nine and 20, some of whom are currently on their half-term break.
Local residents confirmed Mrs Nash lived at the address, saying they believed she worked in advertising and had been with there with her family for three years.
A fellow mother who knew Mrs Nash, but did not wish to be named, said: ‘I knew Marie through our children. Her youngest is aged nine years and so is my girl.
Mrs Nash, pictured with her husband and four children, was allegedly killed in her home today
‘She had another girl aged 13 years and two older boys. They played together in the holidays on the green, the boys would play football together.
‘The kids were always so polite and very sensible, absolutely lovely. It’s the second day of half term so they were more than likely asleep upstairs at the time.
‘It is horrific. Marie worked long hours, she was involved advertising I think. She always had child minders as her husband worked as well.
‘They were very hard working people. Even in the holidays she would have her mum looking after the kids. I never worried about my kids going around to her house.
‘Marie was trustworthy and would always call to tell me if something was wrong. She was a really lovely woman and I will definitely be at her funeral.’
Sue Tarrant, who lives opposite the scene in a crescent called Hyde Green, said: ‘They moved in around three years ago and they have four children.
A forensic investigator enters the property this afternoon in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
‘I assume the husband lives there because there are two cars on the drive. My daughter was getting ready for work and heard sirens at 6.15am today.
‘We never heard any arguments or saw anything untoward in their time living in Hyde Green and I live opposite their house.
‘But I guess you never know what happens behind closed doors. When I heard what happened I was in complete shock, it’s bloody Beaconsfield.
‘It is not something that happens in this area. The fact they have four children, it’s absolutely terrible.’
At 2.50pm today, the body was taken out by a forensic team and covered with a crimson sheet, before being placed into the back of a blacked out Ford van.
Mrs Nash was described by neighbours as a ‘hardworking’ mother to four children aged between nine and 20, some of whom are currently on their half-term break
As the body was being taken away, a neighbour from two doors down placed a bunch of flowers and a card at the end of the drive of the murder scene.
Her son, who has lived on the road his whole life, said: ‘It is so horrible. This is a peaceful area. It makes me sick to the stomach. I was asleep when it happened but I do not know them well.’
Another neighbour, who gave her name only Donna and who has lived in the street for more than 20 years, said: ‘I rarely spoke to them.
‘I did speak to her father who works at Waitrose as he recognised me from when his daughter and her family were moving in a few doors down. It is a terrible shame.’
Detectives led by the head of Thames Valley Police CID, Detective Chief Superintendent Ian Hunter, were called to the scene and the house was sealed off with uniformed police on guard.
Officers arrested a man from Beaconsfield on suspicion of murder after the discovery today
A forensic science team was also drafted into the area, although police said that they believed the death was an ‘isolated incident’ and no one else was involved.
The suspect was arrested on suspicion of murder, but police said they were treating the death as unexplained as they attempted to find out what led to it.
A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: ‘Officers are investigating the unexplained death of a woman in Beaconsfield. They were called to an address in Hyde Green, Beaconsfield at around 6.15am today.
‘On arrival at the property, officers discovered the body of a woman aged in her forties. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene and a scene watch is in place at the property.
‘A 44-year-old man from Beaconsfield has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently in police custody.’
Police launched a murder probe today after the body of the woman in her 40s was found
Detective Chief Superintendent Hunter, Head of Crime for Thames Valley Police, said: ‘Detectives from the Major Crime Unit are investigating the circumstances of this incident and trying to establish exactly how this woman has died.
‘We are appealing for anyone who has any information that could assist us to come forward and contact police. I would like to reassure the public that we believe this incident to be contained to the property and isolated.
‘An arrest has been made and a scene watch remains in place. Residents in the community are likely to see an increase in police presence in the area while we investigate the circumstances of this incident. Anyone who has concerns or information can talk to a police officer.
‘If you have any details which you think are relevant to this incident, please call Thames Valley Police on 101.’
A Home Office pathologist was expected to carry out a post mortem examination on the woman’s body later and an inquest was expected to be opened and adjourned later in the week by the Buckinghamshire coroner.