UK police are urgently tracking a man suspected of murdering his wife and two young daughters after he fled Britain for Zimbabwe.
Investigators have appealed directly to the suspect to hand himself in, warning him that the “criminal investigation knows no borders.”
Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, 42, a British citizen of Zimbabwean heritage who also goes by the name Mark, was named by Bedfordshire Police on Wednesday as the suspect in the murders of Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, 42, and their two daughters, Natalie, 15, and Nala, five.
The bodies of the mother and children were discovered on Monday after officers forced their way into a house in Carnoustie Drive, Great Denham, Bedfordshire.
CCTV footage
Police have since published CCTV footage of Tshuma, who is believed to have left the country from Heathrow Airport on Saturday using his British passport.
Details on the police website read, “Officers from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit launched a murder investigation on Tuesday (7 July) after the bodies of a woman and two children were discovered at a property in Great Denham.
“Although formal identification has yet to take place, police believe them to be his wife and two daughters.”
Detective Inspector Lee Martin issued a direct plea to the suspect, stating:
“We have been carrying out numerous lines of inquiry as part of this fast-paced, complex investigation. We know that Mark Tshuma left the country on Saturday and is now believed to be in Zimbabwe. We are urgently working to find and apprehend him, and would appeal to him directly to hand himself in.
“Mark, unthinkable harm has been caused to those around you, and this has left your relatives and friends utterly devastated. Criminal investigation knows no borders. We are actively working with national and international agencies to pursue every available line of inquiry to track you down. Please do the right thing, come forward and hand yourself in to local authorities.
“Our thoughts are still very much with Zandile, Natalie and Nala, as well as all of those who loved and knew them, at this extremely difficult time.”
Operation Snowdrift
Assistant Chief Constable John Murphy also commented on the scale of the tragedy under Operation Snowdrift, stating:
“This is a deeply distressing incident in which a mother and her two children are believed to have been murdered. Our thoughts are first and foremost with all those affected. We recognise that this will cause concern in the local community and beyond.
“We are committing all necessary resources to establish exactly what has happened and to find the person responsible. As a result of inquiries undertaken so far, we have identified a suspect, who was known to all three victims, and who we believe has since left the country.
“While there is nothing to suggest there is any wider risk to the public, we will be increasing the police presence in and around the area to support the investigation and provide reassurance to residents.”
In Great Denham, around four police cars were spotted outside the property on Tuesday evening as the driveway remained cordoned off.
Shocked neighbours and community members gathered near the family home to pay tribute, leaving bunches of flowers on a nearby hedge.
One of the individuals laying flowers spoke of the mother, saying they were “really sorry to lose her,” before adding: “She was such a gracious mother.”
Another unnamed local expressed disbelief over the tragedy, stating they were shocked the incident occurred in “such a nice and safe area.”
Bedfordshire Police have asked anyone who saw anything suspicious in Carnoustie Drive on Friday or Saturday, or anyone with any further information, to contact them and quote Operation Snowdrift.
