Horror in 'Nappy Valley': Father comes home to find baby son and daughter 'smothered to death by wife' - just 10 days after they moved into £1.2m dream home

Family tragedy: Jeff Boots returned home last night to discover that his two children had been killed. His wife Felicia (pictured) has been arrested

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A horrified father returned home from work to find his two young children dead after seemingly being smothered and his wife had apparently tried to slit both her wrists.

A 10-week-old baby boy and a one-year-old girl were later pronounced dead after investment banker Jeff Boots made frantic efforts to save them before raising the alarm.

Police arrived at the £1.2million family home, in a well-heeled area of Wandsworth, south London, and arrested Felicia Boots, who did not require treatment despite apparently trying to harm herself.
She is now being held over the deaths of 14-month-old Lily and her baby son. She is being questioned by detectives, who are understood to be investigating the possibility that she was suffering from post-natal depression.

Mr Boots was heard crying out as he returned to his home to find his two children dead.

Murder probe: Police on the scene today after a ten-week-old boy and a one-year-old girl were discovered dead

The young family from Canada had bought the smart five-bedroom £1.2million home just a few days ago in an affluent area nicknamed Nappy Valley because young professionals like to move there to raise children.

Their property, spread over three floors, boasts four bathrooms, has a 45ft back garden and is situated close to Wandsworth Common.

Mrs Boots worked as a hair stylist in her native Canada, but turned to creating her own designer jewellery from her home-based studio under the name 'Pink Tangerine' after moving to London.

Neither of the children had any visible injuries and it is believed they may have been smothered to death. A post-mortem examination was due to take place to establish the cause of death.

Neighbours saw the dark-haired mother being put into a police car by an officer who had an arm around her at around 10.30pm last night.

A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said that she did not know the family well but had seen the father walking the family dog down the street.

She said: 'I heard him last night, he was obviously upset, it was not really sobbing, but I don't really want to say what I heard.

'It was just after 7pm, the man I heard had a north American accent, it was quite loud obviously as I could hear it.

'I had never seen the mother, they had only just moved in it was too soon to get to know them.'

Tragedy: A recent picture of a baby taken from Jeffrey Boots' Facebook page believed to be his 10-week-old boy killed in the family home in Wandsworth, south London



Family tragedy: Jeff Boots, who is understood to be an investment banker, with his wife Felicia who is being held over the deaths of their two children in Wandsworth, south London

Another near neighbour told MailOnline: 'The family had moved into the home around 10 days ago and the property still has a sold sign outside.
'The couple were aged in their 30s and they had a pet dog. They arrived with their stuff in vans over a couple of days.

'They had not yet introduced themselves to their neighbours so had not been properly welcomed into our close-knit community.
'Since the family moved into the area we have not seen much of them in the street but were looking forward to meeting them. They seemed like a typical middle-class couple.'

The man added that police and forensic officers were working inside the smart white-painted home until the early hours of the morning.
'The woman was put into a police car by an officer with his arm around her. She is a dark-haired woman of average height and had obviously recently given birth,' he added.
'Initially there had been just one police car but then ambulances and forensics arrived on the scene and we realised something was seriously wrong.
'Everyone was worried about what happened and it is a terrible tragedy.'

The estate agents who sold the property described it as a 'beautifully refurbished' family home with planning permission for a wine store, further bedroom and en suite bathroom.




Cordon: The property in Wandsworth, south London, where the children were found dead



Tragedy: A picture of a young child taken from Felicia Boots' Facebook page believed to be her young daughter who died in the family home in Wandsworth yesterday



Arrest: Felicia Boots who is being questioned by police in connection with the deaths of her two children

Forensic officers are working on the scene and detectives are carrying out house-to-house inquiries in the area as a murder investigation gets underway.
Police said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.

Friends of Felicia have written on her website that she is a highly-talented and creative jeweller.
Derek Selby, director of training and development Schwarzkopf Professional, said: 'Felicia is a creative genius. She uses logic to create, but doesn't let it limit her options.

'She can create a simple elegant look for a classic business woman or something so fashion forward for a trendy street kid, it's six months ahead of it's time. Her technical knowledge paired with her creativity allows her to customize something special for every one.'

Peter Kyriacou, owner of Peter Penny's Hair and Beauty in London, said: 'I have had the pleasure of working alongside Felicia for the last four years. Along with being attentive and unassuming, Felicia is very creative and multitalented; this making her a very special artist.'

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: 'Inquiries are underway after the death of two children in Wandsworth.
'Police were called to an address at 7.25pm on Wednesday 9 May.



Forensic investigation: A forensic officer walks into the property in Wandsworth where the two young children were found dead as two police officers stand guard outside.



Accused: Felicia Boots, aged in her 30s, was today being held in connection with the deaths of her two children

'The ambulance service also attended but a 10-week old boy and a one-year old girl were pronounced dead at the scene.

'A post-mortem examination will take place in due course. Next of kin are aware.

'A woman in her mid-30s was arrested in connection with the incident. She is currently in custody at a south London police station.

'Detectives from the Child Abuse Investigation Command are leading the investigation, and inquiries continue into the full circumstances of the incident.'
A spokesman for the London Ambulance Service said there was nothing they could do to save the children.

He said: 'At just before 7.30pm last night we were called to an address in Wandsworth, south London.
'We sent three ambulance crews, a motorcycle responder and a duty officer but sadly two infants were pronounced dead at the scene.
'No one was taken to hospital or treated at the scene.'

Probe: The street where a double murder investigation has been launched today.

Culled from The Daily Mail UK.

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