Man, 19, quizzed after women’s bodies found

Police found the women at the property in Barden Road, Eastmoor, Wakefield, early on Saturday. Detectives named the two as Kim Frank, 17, and Samantha Sykes, 18. Post-mortem examinations revealed they had died from stab wounds.

Two men, aged 19 and 23, and a 19-year-old woman were initially taken into custody by Kent Police on suspicion of murder after they were arrested in Dover, more than 250 miles from the crime scene. But last night the man, 23, and woman were released without charge.

Police are believed to have discovered the bodies when they broke into Miss Frank’s home after her sister Elisa, 19, called Kent Police.

Last night the circumstances of the deaths remained unclear but it appeared the disturbance started at Elisa Frank’s flat in the next street as she argued with her boyfriend.

It moved to her sister’s first-floor flat before ending in the violent deaths. Neighbours told how Elisa Frank and her boyfriend would constantly fight.

One resident said: “The police have been called here many-a-time and taken the young girl off to safety.” Her sister’s home was also said to be notorious, although it was known more for constantly playing loud music.

Neighbours said that they became concerned that something must be wrong because the property remained quiet on Friday night. Only a solitary bunch of flowers, laid by father Paul Stephens, and a police cordon marked the tragedy that had been uncovered there.

Friend Rebecca Blacker said yesterday: “Kim was a nice quiet girl really but her problem was she was easily led.

“She quite often got herself involved with the wrong crowd.”

Neighbour Peter Grice, 70, said: “It’s not such a great area but you still don’t expect a murder on your street.”

It is believed Samantha Sykes lived with her parents and younger brother Ben in a more affluent area of the city.

Her parents Eric and Julie Sykes were too upset to speak yesterday. 

Over the weekend, police carried out detailed forensic searches of both sisters’ flats and interviewed people in the area.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: “Officers were contacted by Kent Police at 4.47am on Saturday after a 19-year-old woman raised concerns for the safety of two women in the West Yorkshire area.

“The flat and the surrounding area has been sealed off while a forensic examination of the scene is undertaken.”

A Kent Police spokeswoman said officers were called at 4.15am on Saturday following “concerns for a woman’s safety”.

“On arrival, the 19-year-old woman raised concerns for the safety of two further women in West Yorkshire,” the spokeswoman said.

“Acting on that information, police in West Yorkshire found the bodies of two women at a property in Wakefield.”

The Kent Police spokeswoman added that three people were arrested in Dover on suspicion of murder under the direction of the West Yorkshire force.