RESIDENTS have expressed their shock over the discovery of a body in Rednal and another in Streetly believed to be part of a murder-suicide.
The couple have been named locally as Amy and James Barnes.
Police believe Amy was murdered by her husband, James, at a house at Cofton Park Close about midnight (Tuesday) before he killed himself in the garden of a house in Linforth Drive, Streetly, believed to be that of his parents, Robert and Vivien Barnes.
Amy’s body was discovered 40 minutes after her husband’s.
Both areas have been cordoned off while enquiries continue to establish the circumstances.
Neighbours at Cofton Park Close expressed their shock at the events of this morning.
One resident who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I have lived here for three years and never heard of anything like this happening.
“I got home from a night shift at about 8.15am and saw the house was cordoned off and there were police but I never expected it to be anything like this.”
Another resident said: “I’ve not lived here long and I moved here because the area is safe, I still think that but it’s tragic.
“Shocking that it’s happened on your door step.”
Mr Barnes was a former pupil at The Streetly School who went on to study graphic design at Sutton Coldfield College and Computer Games Modelling at the University of Derby.
Shortly before 10pm on Monday – around two hours before he was found dead – he had changed his Facebook profile picture to a photograph of himself and Amy on their wedding day.
One neighbour at Linforth Drive said: “I woke up about half two but I am not sure how long all of the police were there.
“It went on all through the night. There was a police incident unit, fire engine, a fire incident car as well as forensic people in white suits.
“A VW Golf was taken away on a low loader.
“I didn’t know what to think to be honest. At first I thought there may have been a fire. It is a shock really.
“I only know the man that lives there is Rob. He is a full-time carer for his wife.”
Another resident said: “We were woken by the blue lights, we thought there may have been a fire.
“It is very tragic what’s happened.
“Things like that don’t normally happen around here. It’s a quiet road. It is very tragic. My thoughts are with the family.”
Detectives are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths and forensic post mortem examinations will take place in due course.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesperson confirmed it was called to reports of a patient in cardiac arrest in Cofton Park Close, Rednal, at 12.45am this morning.
Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and the West Midlands Care Team attended the scene.
“On arrival, crews discovered a woman who was in cardiac arrest.”
He added it was quickly apparent nothing could be done to save her and she was confirmed dead at the scene.
And he said two ambulances, a paramedic officer and MERIT trauma doctor was sent to the address in Linforth Drive, Streetly, shortly after 11.55pm last night (Monday), following a call to say a man was in cardiac arrest.
“Unfortunately, it quickly became apparent that nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased.”
