Village in shock after double death tragedy (From Gazette & Herald)

Village in shock after double death tragedy

RESIDENTS living in a hamlet of forestry cottages are still trying to come to terms with the double death tragedy of a forester and his wife.

Duncan Bartholomew, 42, is believed to have murdered his wife Sue, 43, at their semi-detached Forestry Commission home at North Moor on the edge of the vast Wykeham Forest, near Scarborough, on Friday night, and then hanged himself from a rafter.

He had worked in the forest where his late father, Bill, was head forester for many years, since leaving school.

While the couple had no children, it is thought Mr Bartholomew had a daughter from a previous relationship.

Neighbours were said to be stunned by the tragedy, which came to light when a neighbour rang the police after becoming concerned about noises emanating from the white-painted house, one of eight at North Moor, built for forestry workers just after the Second World War.

Teams of police spent a number of days at the scene, combing the garden and roadside verges for any clues as senior detectives tried to piece together the tragedy.

Inspector Ron Johnson, of North Yorkshire Police, dismissed reports that Mr Bartholomew had rung the police saying he had killed his wife.

The couple have still to be formally identified by family following extensive post-mortem examinations by a Home Office pathologist.

"It is routine now that an area is sealed off and searched extensively. Searches have to include not only the house but the garden and surrounding area," he added.

There have also been rumours that the couple had been arguing over money but Insp Johnson said there was no evidence to back this up.

The coroner, Michael Oakley, is expected to open inquests on the couple later this week and adjourn the hearings until a later date when police have collated all the evidence.

However, police say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.

Mr Bartholomew had spent all his working life with the Forestry Commission, having moved with his family to North Moor in 1974 from Kielder in Northumberland.

His late father, Bill, was head forester at Wykeham and retired to Nawton after leaving North Moor.

Bob Howes, a leading forester and researcher at Wykeham until his retirement knew the couple. "They were a very pleasant, happy couple. Everyone was taken aback by the tragedy. It is so sad because they were popular and hardworking."

Mr Bartholomew had worked full-time in the nursery while his wife had worked part-time there before taking up a post in a butchery business. Mr Howes said he had seen the couple just before Christmas when they appeared to be their usual happy selves.

"I remember Duncan as a great young lad, enthusiastic about his job."

Mr Bartholomew is understood to have a brother.

Updated: 14:18 Wednesday, January 19, 2005