JED ALLEN scrawled the words “I am sorry” in blood on the wall of his bedroom after killing his mother, her partner and his six-year-old half sister.

Oxfordshire coroner Darren Salter returned a verdict of unlawful killing following the inquest into the deaths of Philip Howard, Janet Jordon and their daughter Derin in Didcot.

At Oxford Coroner’s Court yesterday Mr Salter said all evidence suggested the three were stabbed to death by 21-year-old Allen.

Police officers and paramedics found a scene of devastation when they attended the Vicarage Road home where he killed them on Saturday, May 23.

As well as the message in blood on the bedroom wall there was a bare-footed footprint in blood, later found to be Allen’s, near the back door of the house and a blood-stained notebook in the kitchen.

In it Allen had written: “I know the truth. I do not want it for me or my family. This is the end.”

Ms Jordon, 48, and her six-year-old daughter were found dead in an upstairs bedroom and Mr Howard, 44, was found at the bottom of the stairs.

The inquest heard that the family were killed by multiple stab wounds from a hunting knife belonging to Allen which he kept in a leather sheath in his bedroom.

The knife was found embedded in Mr Howard, but Det Sgt Ali Driver told the court it was likely that he was killed first.

He said: “One suggestion is that he was decorating when he was attacked.

“He was attacked when still upright.”

All three had injuries consistent with trying to defend themselves.

The inquest was told Ms Jordon had suffered problems with drug and alcohol abuse and mental illness for many years.

This had led to her two other children being taken into care by social services in 2002 and 2004.

A statement from her GP Dr David Ellis said she had stopped drinking by 2008 and received a prescription for heroin substitute methadrone to help her deal with drug abuse.

But a toxicology report after her death revealed heavy abuse of heroin and said she would likely have been high on the drug when she died.

Det Sgt Driver said: “[Allen’s mother] took heroin, which he had issues with, not least having to fund part of her habit.”

Forensic pathologist Dr Nicholas Hunt said despite this the 48-year-old was alive when she was stabbed and the wounds she had suffered suggested she had tried to defend herself and Derin.

Dr Hunt said: “They were unsurvivable injuries.”

The toxicology report also revealed Mr Howard had been abusing heroin.

The coroner heard Allen had previously experienced “dark thoughts” and in a statement his friend Aaron Farmer said he had been feeling “down” in the days before the murder.

He texted Mr Farmer two days before the murder to say he was frustrated that he had not heard back from a job he had applied for and that his mother had pulled out of plans go to the cinema.

In one text Allen said Ms Jordon was a “junkie who cannot keep her life together”.

Mr Salter said: “This is a shocking case and, despite thorough investigation, there appears to be no known reason why the deaths occurred.

“There were no warning signs that were apparent to anyone.

“One can speculate that Jed Allen was not of sound mind.

“That would seem to be the case but there were no signs of mental health difficulties in the time leading up to when the deaths occurred.”

Oxford Mail:

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NO INDICATION OF MENTAL TROUBLE

Oxfordshire coroner Darren Salter said: “This is a shocking case and, despite thorough investigation, there seems to be no known reason why the deaths occurred. There were no warning signs that were apparent to anyone. 

“One can speculate that Jed Allen was not of sound mind. That would seem to be the case but there was no sign of mental health difficulties in the time leading up to when the deaths occurred.”

Detective constable Paul Reece read a statement on behalf of the Jordon family outside the coroner’s court.

He said: “No parent should have to bury their child, let alone two of their grandchildren. There are no words that can describe the dreadful impact this terrible event has had on our family.

“We have been left both dumbstruck and devastated by the events that transpired on that fateful evening. The sense of overwhelming grief and loss for the people who were loved so much is truly unimaginable.

“We will never truly know what led to these shocking events.”

In a statement read after the hearing Philip Howard’s brother Andrew said he had lost his “loving little brother”.

He added: “His humour, cheek and our memories will always stay with us. I just hope that Philip, Derin and Jan are at peace.”

The mother of Mr Howard’s other children, who gave her name only as Lisa, read a statement on behalf of the youngsters.

She said: “No words can ever describe the pain we feel knowing we will never see you again. We shouldn’t be feeling this way. We will miss you. We will make you proud of us daddy, as we were of you.”