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I've murdered my entire family, caller told police
DETECTIVES investigating the deaths of two children, their mother and her brother have revealed that a man phoned police to tell them: "I've murdered my entire family".
Just minutes later, officers made the grim discovery at a semi-detached house in Kenton, Newcastle, where they found the bodies of Olufunke Sobo, 36 and her brother Yemi, 41.
The "gruesome" scene also included the bodies of Ms Sobo's children Abigail Crampton, 12, and five-year-old Steven Crampton, who were dressed in night clothes.
Their father – 33-year-old ex-taxi driver Neil Crampton – has been arrested by detectives in connection with the murders.
It is believed all four were knifed to death, although detectives have not revealed how they were killed other than that they were the victims of a "sustained, violent attack".
The children's grandmother Tunde Sobo, who also lived at the house, returned from a holiday to her native Nigeria on Monday to find her home sealed off with a police cordon and was then told about the murders.
Police arrested Mr Crampton outside his parents' home in the afternoon. He had been taking Prozac tablets for depression before the attack.
Officers hoped they would be able to begin questioning him today, as he has been receiving medical treatment for injuries since he was arrested.
Detective Superintendent Steve Wade, who is leading the investigation, said the police received a call at 8.50am on Monday from a man who said: 'I've murdered my entire family' before hanging up.
"But he had given an address where he was calling from," Mr Wade said.
He described how officers found Mr Sobo in the hallway and his sister in the living room. The children were dressed in night clothes and were upstairs in separate bedrooms.
A friend of the Asda worker rang her at 11pm the day before the police were called and all seemed to be well, Mr Wade said.
He said the arrested man, whom he declined to name, was not being held in a police custody because he needed medical treatment.
"I can confirm that the arrested man is related to the victims, but, at this stage, I am not going to name him or give more details of his relationship to these victims," he said.
He would not speculate whether the man had tried to kill himself.
Mr Wade said there was no record of domestic violence between Ms Sobo and her former partner.
Mr Crampton's parents Bill and Ann were out buying Christmas presents when police swooped on their home in Winlaton, Gateshead, on Monday as he arrived in his car.
The vehicle has been taken away for forensic analysis.
Mr Wade said he had spoken to both the Sobo family and that of the arrested man.
"Both sets of families are devastated by what has happened.
"They are completely in shock and it's going to take them forever, I would imagine, to get over what has happened.
"It's a horrific crime – the scene itself is terrible – but we need to deal with it."
He would not say how the four had died but said all were "victims of a sustained, violent attack".
"Their family are distraught – their friends, colleagues, and fellow pupils are devastated by this tragedy," he said.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
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