Family of murdered elderly couple tell of devastation

Italian-born Guiseppe and Caterina Massaro, 80 and 77, were found by a relative at their home in Woden Road, Wolverhampton, on Friday night.

A murder inquiry is under way and police are still trying to track the movements of the couple’s car, which was missing from their address.

In a tribute released through West Midlands Police, the Massaros’ family said they could not “begin to grasp the evil” that took place in their home.

The statement comes as it emerged a relative found the couple dead in their ransacked bedroom.

It said: “Words cannot describe the devastation that has struck our family after discovering our beloved grandparents hurt by the hands of someone else.

“We cannot even begin to grasp the evil that took place in their home and how frightened they would have been.

“An entire generation was taken away from us that day and we cannot comprehend how something could go this far. We only hope this devastation can save the lives of many other people by being aware that tragedy can strike at anytime so all we can do is be more vigilant towards our neighbours and the entire community.

“Their lives will be sadly missed and this has severely affected our family and a lot of our friends.”

Police said Mr and Mrs Massaro lived at Woden Road for a number of years and were originally from Italy, coming to England in 1960.

Mr Massaro and his wife had two children and a number of grand-children.

Granddaughter Lindsey Booth, 22, who discovered their bodies, told a local newspaper it was clear they had been burgled.

“When I got upstairs I opened their bedroom door and saw my grandad lying still on top of the mattress,” she told the paper.

“I screamed to my mom to stay downstairs and walked over to touch the body and it was cold and clearly dead.

“That’s when I noticed my gran lying next to him because her body had been covered by the duvet.

“They were both still in their day clothes and I didn’t see any blood or signs that there had been a struggle.”

Yesterday police said a forensic post-mortem examination was being carried out. Results are expected today.

A spokeswoman said the investigation involves detectives from the force’s major investigation unit, forensic specialists and local neighbourhood officers with house-to-house, CCTV and forensic enquiries, while family Liaison Officers are helping the family.

Police are still appealing for information about the couple’s black Peugeot 307, registration PK56 VRW, which was missing from their address.

It was later found in Tithe Croft, Wednesfield.