Police Investigating Family Murder Hunt Car - Sky News

6:22am UK, Tuesday May 03, 2011

Police investigating the murders of a family of four found stabbed to death in their home have appealed for information about a missing car.

The bodies of four family members were found in their home

The silver Vauxhall Corsa was last seen outside the house in Wootton, Northampton on Friday.

"The car was hired to one of the deceased, but is not at the address and its whereabouts are currently unknown," a police spokesman said.

The family, named locally as university lecturer Jifeng Ding, his wife Helen Chui and their two daughters Xing and Alice, are thought to have been attacked inside the detached property before being discovered by police on Sunday night.

Detectives are understood to be examining the family's background as they seek to establish a motive for the deaths.

At this moment in time the motive behind the deaths does not appear to be due to burglary or robbery

Northamptonshire Police

"At this moment in time the motive behind the deaths does not appear to be due to burglary or robbery," a statement on the Northamptonshire Police website said.

"We do not believe there is any risk to the wider public."

Mr Ding, who was known as Jeff, is reported to have worked at Manchester Metropolitan University, while his 47-year-old wife is thought to have worked as a teacher in the area.

Xing, 18, and Alice, 11, both attended local schools.

"We have as yet been unable to formally identify the bodies, and this is currently our main priority. The four people are believed to be members of the same family and are of Chinese descent," police said.

"Forensic specialists and other officers are on scene and are likely to be so for several days as we try to establish the exact cause and circumstances of the deaths."

Detectives confirmed that all victims had suffered knife wounds and said they do not believe the couple and their daughters were the victims of a "murder-suicide".

Anyone with information is asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 0800 096 1011 or 0207 158 0126 between 8am and midnight and ask for the Operation Nene incident room.

Alternatively they can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, where information
can be provided anonymously.