Live blog: Body found in hunt for Jed Allen following murder of family in Didcot

Here is a review of all of our coverage of the murders in Vicarage Road and the hunt for Jed Allen.

10:08pm

9:15pm

An ambulance carrying the body believed to be Jed Allen has just left the area in Marston Ferry Road

7:00pm

Police at the scene in Marston Ferry Road

6:45pm

The approximate location

6:35pm

Police officers and forensics staff as well as an ambulance are at a cordoned off cycle path where the body believed to be Jed Allen has been found.

The road itself is open to traffic but it is a section of the cycle path that is cordoned off.

 

I'm down at Marston Ferry where a body - believed to be Jed Allen - has been found. pic.twitter.com/6Ek8O02EA1

— Callum Keown (@OxMailCallumK) May 25, 2015

6:31pm

The Thames Valley Police statement in full:

Thames Valley Police have found a body in connection with the murders in Didcot. The body of a man was found in Marston Ferry Road, Oxford, just before 5pm today.

Although the man has not been formally identified the force is satisfied it is Jed Allen, aged 21.

The victims' families have been informed. The body was discovered in an area of woodland accessible by two members of the public.

This area had not previously been searched by police. There is a cordon in place at the scene.

Thames Valley Police continues its investigation into the murder of Janet Jordon, known as Jan, Philip Howard, known as Phil, and Derin Jordon, in Vicarage Road, Didcot, on Saturday.

However we are not looking for anyone else in connection with their murders.

An inquest will be carried out by the coroner in due course.

Det Supt Chris Ward said: "My condolences go out to the families and loved ones of Janet Jordon, Philip Howard and Derin Jordon. We have specially trained officers with the families and we will continue to support them at this extremely difficult time.

"I would like to thank the public for all their help during this investigation, as well as their patience, while we have been carrying out searches across Oxfordshire.

"I would especially like to thank the residents of Didcot, who have co-operated with the police during this tragic period.

"I would also like to thank the media for publishing our appeal in connection with this investigation."

 

6:16pm

There is a heavy police presence in Marston Ferrry Road. We will bring you more from the scene as soon we have it.

6:10pm

The body that police believe is Jed Allen was found close to Marston Ferry Road.

The road runs between Summertown and Marston.

6:10pm

Police confirm they have found a body they believe to be Jed Allen.

More to follow

5:30pm

Police have changed the time and location of a briefing they were due to give the media this evening, saying it will now be held at 6pm and there is a significant update

3:20pm

Police continue to search University Parks today for clues to the whereabouts of Jed Allen

2:29pm

For those of you who have been following throughout the day, here is a timeline of how events have unfolded so far, according to Thames Valley Police.

Saturday May 23

• 5.24pm - Jed Allen is believed to board a train leaving Didcot.
• 5.45pm - He arrives in Oxford.
• 6pm - Allen is captured on CCTV at the WHSmith store at Oxford railway station just before 6pm.
• 8.23pm - Thames Valley Police are called to an address in Vicarage Road by a member of the public. They attend the property and find the bodies of Philip Howard, 44, Janet Jordon, 48, and daughter Derin, six. They are pronounced dead at the scene.

Sunday May 24

• 10.55am - Detectives reveal they are hunting a man called Jed Allen, 21, in connection with the killings.

Monday May 25

• 1.13pm - Police release CCTV footage of Allen in a bid to raise awareness of the search. Anyone who sees him is told to call 999.

2:23pm

Ribbons are starting to appear across Didcot in memory of Mr Howard, Ms Jordon and Derin. These ones are tied to lamposts in Wescum Drive, where the family had lived before moving to Vicarage Road.

 

 

1.52pm

Here's the video of Det Supt Chris Ward giving the latest information on the police investigation, courtesy Thames Valley Police

1:45pm

Video of Derin's headteacher John Myers paying tribute to the six-year-old and talking about how the school is supporting the community

1:35pm

1:29pm

Thames Valley Police spokesman James Williams has confirmed to the Oxford Mail that the murder weapon was a knife.

 

1:10pm

DETECTIVES are today piecing together Jed Allen's movements in the hours before the bodies of his sister, mother and her partner were discovered in Didcot.

Det Supt Chris Ward released these two CCTV pictures of Allen - named as a suspect in the deaths in Vicarage Road - taken from Oxford Station just before 6pm on Saturday night. The bodies were discovered just after 8pm.

Mr Ward said: “We believe that Jed boarded a train from Didcot to Oxford at 5.24pm and arrived in Oxford at 5.45pm.

“He was then captured on CCTV at the WHSmith store at Oxford railway station just before 6pm.

“Jed is wearing a red or maroon shirt, a dark hooded jacket with a white trim on the zip, blue jeans and black shoes.

“After visiting WHSmith, we believe that Jed then walked to Oxford University Parks.

“Jed is white, about 6ft, of stocky build, and has a distinctive tattoo of a spider on his left hand.

“If you see Jed please do not approach him, instead call 999 immediately.

“We would urge anyone with any other information about the incident to contact us via 101 quoting a new reference number of 465 (24/5). Did you see or hear anything suspicious in Vicarage Road on Saturday? If you did then we want to hear from you."

Mr Ward also confirmed what is believed to be the murder weapon was found at the property in Vicarage Road.

Whilst post mortem examinations are yet to be carried out, police have said they believe the victims were stabbed.

Mr Ward also issued a warning to anyone sheltering Allen, 21.

He said: “If you don't want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

“If anyone is harbouring Jed Allen then you need to know that this is a serious offence and we would ask you to contact us immediately."

Mr Ward added: “At this time no arrests have been made in this investigation.

“The post mortems of the victims are scheduled to take place today (25/5) and tomorrow (26/5).

“Our search of Oxford University Parks continues today with more than 100 officers involved, including national specialist search officers who have now joined the search.

“I can confirm that what we believe to be the murder weapon was found at the scene of the murder in Vicarage Road, Didcot.

“Finally, I would like to thank all those members of the public who have called in with information, as well as the media who have published our appeals.”

12:59pm

Police release two CCTV images of Jed Allen taken at the WH Smith store at Oxford Station at just before 6pm on Saturday - little more than two hours before Jan, Phil and Derin's bodies were discovered.

More on this shortly

12:46pm

Tributes and bouquets continue to be left at Vicarage Road

12:45pm

Police remain at the house in Vicarage Road where Jan Jordon, Philip Howard and Derin Jordon were discovered.

11:50am

Police have yet to issue any new information about the investigation so far

11:40am

John Myers, the headteacher at All Saint’s Primary School where Derin was in Year 1, said the family had just moved, but had most of their connections in the area.

Mr Myers said: “She was a beautiful little girl, happy and gentle and smiley. She was a wonderful little child.”

He said he felt “shocked and devastated”, adding: “As you can suspect I was just shocked when I heard. It’s hard to believe, but it’s also the manner of it as well. To lose any life is awful and lose a child is doubly so. But the nature of this loss is hard to take in and comprehend.”

People have now gathered at the Ladygrove Children’s Centre at the school, which is due to be open until 3pm today.

Mr Myers added: “I was here yesterday afternoon talking with friends and we just thought we needed to offer a place for people to go.

“People need a place to gather at times like this. We thought we should open up our doors and offer tea and coffee and a vicar.

“We have tea lights and candles and people can pray and there’s gentle music.”

11:25am

10:00am

A RAINBOW of ribbons will be spread across Didcot as the town pulls together after a family of three were found murdered.

Police are still hunting for Jed Allen, 21, after the bodies of his mother Jan Jordon, her partner Philip Howard and their six-year-old daughter Derin were found in their Vicarage Road home.

Flowers and tributes are being left at a police cordon on the street, barely yards from the murder scene.

Today Didcot's Ladygrove Children's Centre at All Saint's School, where Derin was a pupil, will be open from 10am until 3pm for families to gather with their children in support and remembrance.

Multi-coloured ribbons are also being tied around lamp posts in the area as a tribute to the three.

The main colours being chosen are blue for Mr Howard, purple or red for Ms Jordon and pink for six-year-old Derin, who was known affectionately as "Dezzy."

A police cordon remains on Vicarage Road, but Oxford University Parks has reopened after police closed it off yesterday.

A full-scale manhunt, involving more than 100 police officers was launched as Allen was named as a suspect in the case.

Police said the most likely cause of death was stabbing, and post mortem examinations are expected to be carried out today.

Searches in Didcot and Oxford are expected to continue today as police unravel what happened to the victims.

Yesterday armed police descended on University Parks in Oxford as part of the investigation. The parks' gates were shut and the grounds remained closed for most of the day.

This morning the gates were unlocked and the park appeared to have reopened.

Flowers and cuddly toys have been left on the cordon in Didcot, just yards from the crime scene.

A tribute signed by Mary, Dilly and Mally started: "To my best friend Jan, Dezzy & my anorexic Phil & my gorgeous boy Jed,

"You are my family & always will be.

"I always said Jan you were too kind for this world.

"My heart is broken & will never be the same again."

 

How the investigation developed over Saturday and Sunday

Det Supt Chris Ward said the most likely cause of the deaths of the trio - whose bodies were found in their home in Vicarage Road just before 8.30pm on Saturday - was stabbing.

Neighbours in Didcot have told the Oxford Mail that Allen regularly stayed at the family's previous address in Wensum Drive.

Mr Howard was 44, Ms Jordon 48 and Derin six and Mr Ward said: "We offer our condolences to the family. This is obviously a tragic and sad event."

Mr Ward, of Thames Valley Police's major crime unit, said officers were hunting for Allen, 21, as the force released a picture of him and appealed for anyone who sees him to call them on 101.

He added that post mortem examinations will be carried out today.

Police were called to the property just before 8.30pm on Saturday

Paramedics declared all three people dead at the scene.

No one has been arrested and more than 100 police officers are now involved in the case.

At about 4.25pm yesterday a private ambulance pulled up at the scene and the three bodies were brought out of the property.

 

 

• Police arrive at Oxford University Parks and put on riot gear

Police in riot gear, along with police dogs, were yesterday seen entering Oxford University Parks after the grounds were shut as part of the investigation.

An armed police officer was also seen walking through the park.

Some 20 officers were seen entering the park in two large police vans at the South Lodge car park, by St Cross Street. A blue tent has been put up by that entrance.

All were carrying riot shields and they marched northwards into the grounds.

The gates were locked and a police helicopter was seen hovering over the area.

• Police are hunting for Jed Allen in connection with a triple murder in Didcot

A lot of activity appeared to be happening toward the north-east end of the grounds, near the River Cherwell.

Passers-by were told by police and Oxford University security officers that the parks would be shut all day.

Roland Rossler, 44, a tourist from Hamburg, said: "I just came down to university parks this morning and I was told they are shut.

"I heard there is a murder and now police are looking for someone.

"It's very worrying."

 

• Police at the gates of Oxford University Parks

Police confirmed that Allen was once a groundskeeper for Oxford Univeristy and Didcot Town Council's website lists a man of the same name having been an apprentice gardener with the authority.

At a press conference yesterday morning, Mr Ward appealed for the public's help to find Allen.

He said: "It is very important that we locate him as quickly as we can.

"I do not believe that there are any dangers to the wider community of Oxford, however given the nature of what we are dealing with, it's imporatnt that we find him as quickly and safely as possible."

Allen is 21, of large build, white, and has a distinctive tattoo of a spider on his left hand, Mr Ward said.

He was related to the victims.

Allen was formerly a groundsman for Oxford University, Mr Ward said, and there are searches going on in relation to that.

His Facebook page says he studied at Marlborough School. He came from Didcot but now lives in Oxford, the page also says.

 

Mr Ward said claims that a firearm was involved in their deaths were not true but added: "I do not want to speculate at the cause of death at the moment.

"I don't know how long the victims were [dead in the house] but we are concentrating on the last 24 hours."

Their families had been informed of their deaths, Mr Ward added.

The three people had moved in to the house only within the past two months but had lived in the area before that.

Mr Ward is now appealing for anyone who was in Vicarage Road in the past 24 hours to call detectives on 101 quoting a new reference number of 465 (24/5).

The road is now sealed off as police carry out their investigations.

Three scenes of crime officers were seen going into the house about 8.15am  yesterday.

There were at least 12 police officers at the scene.

• Police held a press conference at 10.30am and we will be covering it live as it happens.

A former landlady of Ms Jordon said that she had known the 48-year-old and Allen when they rented a house from her in Kidlington.

Jane Ilott, 68, said: "I didn't know Jed as a 6ft man, I know him as a little fella who was really struggling."

The pensioner explained that her 48-year-old former tenant was not the kind of person that you got to know well, and that she moved into one of her houses before moving to Didcot.

"He lived with his dad and he was a lovely, lovely boy. He would come down some weekends, he would either be with his nan, who lives in Kidlington, or with his mum.

She continued: "We did far more than a landlord and landlady would have done, we tried to be good neighbours."

Asked if there was a man in Ms Jordon's life when she was living in Kidlington, Mrs Illot said: "I used to get knocks on the door, little disagreements with people knocking on my door and asking for the keys and I would say 'No'.

Adding that she would turn them away even when they claimed that Ms Jordon had said it was ok for them to go in, Mrs Ilott said: "That would be one of many, I'm only being honest. I'm not saying she was a nasty girl because she wasn't, she was a lovely girl with a problem."

Det Chief Insp Simon Steel of the Thames Valley Police Major Crime Unit, said: “Thames Valley Police has launched a murder investigation in Didcot after receiving a call from a member of the public at 8.23pm yesterday (23/5).

“Police officers attended the scene and three bodies were found inside the property. A man, a woman and a girl were pronounced dead at the scene by ambulance staff. Their deaths are being treated as suspicous.

“This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the loved ones of the deceased.

“I would like to reassure the public that we are carrying out a thorough investigation into the incident.

“We would urge anyone with any information about the incident to contact us immediately via 101 quoting reference number 1370 (23/5). Did you see or hear anything suspicious in Vicarage Road this evening? If you did then we want to hear from you.

“If you don't want to speak directly to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

"No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

“A scene watch is in place in Vicarage Road, which is currently closed with access to residents only.

“I understand this incident will have an impact on the community and residents will be concerned.

"As you can understand, we are in the early stages of this investigation, but we will work hard to make sure the community is kept updated when we can.”

A spokesman from South Central Ambulance Service said: “We were called at 8.33pm to an incident in Vicarage Road, in Didcot.

“We sent two ambulance crews, an ambulance officer and our Enhanced Care Response Unit.

“Sadly, three people were confirmed deceased at the scene.

“An adult male, an adult female and a child.”