‘Emma Pattison’s husband killed Epsom College head & daughter & took his own life’ in double murder-suicide, cops think
POLICE investigating the deaths of a headteacher, her husband and seven-year-old daughter are understood to be treating the tragedy as a double murder and suicide.
Detectives suspect George Pattison, 39, killed his wife Emma, 45, and little Lettie before taking his own life last weekend.
The trio were discovered on the grounds of Epsom College, Surrey, in the early hours of Sunday.
Surrey Police said they are not looking for anybody else in connection with the “isolated” incident, but have given no further details of the causes of the deaths.
A source told The Telegraph a member of staff living nearby raised the alarm after hearing gunshots.
The Pattison family home is understood to be surrounded by other properties occupied by teachers and school workers.
One shaken former neighbour said: “It is just shocking and unimaginable.
“She was very bubbly, she was out jogging a lot.
“He was quiet. All I know about him is that he was a financial guy.
“I got nothing more than a wave from him in four years, whereas Emma I often chatted to.
“She was more outgoing. I would see her out with the daughter, running and playing on the bike.”
Chloe Rathbone, 27, a nursery worker who looked after Lettie, added: “I am utterly so heartbroken over this awful news.
“They were such a lovely family and Lettie was perfect in every way, everything you could have wished for in a little girl.”
Emma became the first female head of £42,000-a-year Epsom College in September last year after six years at Croydon High School in South London.
She moved on site with her daughter and chartered accountant partner George, who ran a management consultancy firm called Tanglewood 2016, according to Companies House.
The family later bought a dog, a Labrador called Bella.
In a pupil-run podcast, Emma described the the transition period as being full of “really big changes”.
She told sixth form students: “We’ve obviously moved house, we’ve bought a dog, I’ve got a new job, my husband’s got a new job which wasn’t meant to happen but did, and my daughter has started a new school.
“There has been a lot of change for us as a family, but it has been wonderful.”
‘TALENTED TEACHER’
She also expressed her passion for teaching and excitedly revealed how much she had loved her first few weeks at the helm and that “there is so much to come”.
Former colleagues and friends described her as a “wonderful” teacher who “enriched children’s lives”.
Cheryl Giovannoni, chief executive of the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST), of which Croydon High School is part, said: “Emma was a much loved and respected member of the GDST community, as well as a talented head and teacher and a dear friend to many of us.
“She touched the lives of all of us with her energy, wisdom and kindness during her six years as head of Croydon High School and the school will always bear the legacy of her inspiring leadership.”
Dr Alastair Wells, chairman of the board of governors at Epsom College, said: “I want to convey our utter shock and disbelief at this tragic news.
“Our immediate thoughts and condolences are with Emma’s family, friends and loved ones, and to the many pupils and colleagues whose lives she enriched throughout her distinguished career.
“Emma was a wonderful teacher, but most of all she was a delightful person.”
Epsom College, part of which remains cordoned off, won the top prize at the Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2022, with judges calling it a “beacon of excellence”.
The school was also named the winner of the Student Wellbeing Award at the October ceremony thanks to its “whole-school approach to mental health and the wellbeing of both its staff and pupils”.
More than 850 boys and girls attend the school, which was founded in 1853, and its acting head has been listed as Paul Williams.
Ex-pupils include BBC presenter Jeremy Vine and ex-MI6 spy chief Sir John Scarlett.
