A TODDLER found sleeping near his dead parents after a suspected murder-suicide is “doing well”, a family friend has revealed.
Little Oscar Nemcev, two, was found sleeping peacefully next to the bodies of dad Kiril, 31, and mum Lana, 33, at the family’s rented home in Burton, Staffs.
The couple were found yards from their sleeping son[/caption]
The youngster – along with the Latvian family’s two dogs – are being temporarily cared for by friend Nikita Ascuks and his wife.
A friend of the family today said the boy was “safe and well” and “being looked after”.
The couple’s roommate made the tragic discovery – finding the Latvian couple’s two-year-old son asleep in the semi-detached home on Wednesday night.
Staffordshire Police today revealed that Lana’s death is being treated as murder, while Kiril is thought to have committed suicide.
TODDLER SLEPT PEACEFULLY NEXT TO MUM’S CORPSE
Detective Chief Inspector Dan Ison,said the force is not looking for any other suspect.
He said “An investigation into the two deaths is ongoing.
“Following initial enquiries, the 33-year-old woman’s death is being treated as murder and the 31-year-old’s death is not being treated as suspicious.
“At this stage, we are not looking for anyone else and a post mortem is due to take place to establish the cause of death.
TODDLER SLEPT PEACEFULLY NEXT TO MUM’S CORPSE
“The man and woman’s families have been informed and have asked that they are given privacy at this difficult time.”
Mr Ascuks, 33, refused to comment on Oscar but said he was shocked by the news.
He said: “Lana and Kiril were the perfect, happy couple. They got on so well.
“No-one knows what has happened yet. We have to wait for the police investigation.”
Lana and Kiril were the perfect, happy couple. No-one knows what has happened
Nikita Ascuks
Bouquets of flowers were today placed outside the semi-detached home in Henhurst Hill, which remained under police guard.
Lana and Kiril were discovered by a close friend, Jurijs Lacis, 47, who also lived at the property at around 11pm on Wednesday.
Staff at Boots Opticians in Burton town centre, where Lana worked as an optometrist, were today handed time off by bosses after learning of the tragedy.
Her colleagues were granted compassionate leave, with workers from other branches stepping in to plug the gap.
Employees at the branch, in the Coopers Square shopping centre, have also been offered counselling support.
Kevin Snowball, retail operations director for Boots Opticians, said: “We are devastated to learn of the sudden death of our colleague.
“Our thoughts are with her family and our team. We are providing our colleagues with the support they require at this difficult time.”
GRIM FIND
Pizza Express, who employed Kiril as a chef at its Tamworth restaurant, said it was “extremely saddened”.
Tributes continued to amass for the couple as a fundraising page passed £2,500 in just three hours.
Organiser Anna Jelisejeva, from Bridlington, North Yorks, said: “Their family need our support to organise body transportation back to Latvia and cover all funeral expenses.
“We all knew Lana and Kiril as a cheerful and happy family who enjoyed every moment spent together with their two year old son.
“All funds will be delivered to Lana’s and Kiril’s families directly.”
Kiril is understood to have moved to the UK about six years ago, settling in Winchester.
He then met Lana, an optometrist, when he was visiting Latvia a few years ago, with the couple marrying in 2016.
The pair were said to have moved into the Burton house when Lana was pregnant with Oscar.
A pal of Kiril’s, yesterday told the Daily Mail that the dad had complained about being tired at his work.
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He said: “I think it was maybe depression – he told me that Lana didn’t understand him.
“They had been a happy couple but there had been tension between them in recent weeks.”
He added: “Lana was upset because she said Kiril always thought he was in the right and she was always in the wrong. But I don’t know what could have triggered something like this to happen.”
The couple had been ‘tense’, neighbours claimed[/caption]
The couple had shared photographs of themselves grinning at the camera before their deaths[/caption]
The deaths are being treated as unexplained at this time[/caption]
Police and forensic officers outside the house in Burton-on-Trent[/caption]
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