FOR Neil and Rachel Entwistle, their personal website was proof that they were living the great American dream.
The couple, who met at the University of York rowing club, had moved to a small town in the US to start a family and have a better life. Yesterday that dream ended.
State police were hunting for Mr Entwistle after his American wife and nine-month-old baby were found dead, lying side by side in the master bedroom of their home in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, under a pile of blankets.
Mrs Entwistle had apparently been clutching her daughter Lillian to her when they were killed.
State police said that Mr Entwistle, a British citizen, had left the United States, but they had made contact with him, and still considered him a “person of interest” in their inquiry. His BMW had been located.
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Martha Coakley, the Middlesex District Attorney, said that the murders, the first in the small town for more than a decade, did not appear to be random.
Police broke into the five-bedroom home in a cul-de-sac after guests invited to a dinner party on Saturday night found the house in darkness and no one home.
There was very little blood and at first officers thought they had died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Post-mortem results, however, showed that Mrs Entwistle was killed with a gunshot wound to the head, as well as suffering another wound to the torso. The couple’s daughter, Lillian died of a single bullet to the torso.
Police believe that Mr Entwistle may have been missing since Friday night, but Ms Coakley refused to say whether she believed Mr Entwistle was heading back to England.
Scores of messages of condolence have been left on the Entwistles’ website, where they had posted dozens of pictures of Lillian’s first Christmas, Hallowe’en and baptism. There were also many pictures of the extended family with Lillian, including grandparents and godparents.
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Mrs Entwistle, a teacher from Massachusetts, and her husband, a computer technician, met when Rachel Souza, as she was then, spent a year at the University of York in 1999.
She was a cox at the rowing club, of which Mr Entwistle was a member while studying electrical engineering with business management.
On the Friends Reunited website he boasted about his wife to be. “Getting married to the most amazing woman in the world this summer: Rachel. We met through rowing. She was my cox, I her stroke! She’s from the good ol’ US, Boston to be more specific, Plymouth if you’re really curious.”
The couple, who married in August 2003 in Manomet, Massachusetts, had moved from England to America where they took out a lease on the colonial-style house.
Mr Entwistle was looking for work among the many high-technology companies in the area and is thought to have had several job interviews lined up.
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The mother of a close friend of Mrs Entwistle told reporters that she was impressed by the way Mr Entwistle cared for his wife and daughter when they were at her home.
“He seemed like a loving father and husband,” she said. “I can’t believe Neil would do anything to his daughter or wife; but I don’t know.”
Thomas Irvin, the chief of police in Hopkinton, said: “This is a quiet, professional neighbourhood of working families that we would normally consider as safe. There is no reason for anyone to fear there will be a repetition of this.”
The medical examiner (ME) was conducting a post-mortem examination yesterday. Ms Coakley said that it is unknown when the pair died, but a family member spoke to Mrs Entwistle on Thursday. “We can’t speculate at this point,” Ms Coakley said. “We never jump to conclusions. We’re going to see what the ME has to say and we’re going to talk to anyone who may have information.”
Investigators have found some information which suggests that Mr Entwistle began “travelling” on Friday. Ms Coakley said that they had an idea where he was, but would not disclose the location.
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There has been no evidence of domestic unrest uncovered by investigators, she said, and family members spoken to said that there was no indication of unhappiness in the marriage.
MESSAGES ON FAMILY WEBSITE
My deepest sympathy on such an awful tragedy. Having known both Neil and Rachel ever since they first met at university this news comes as a great shock to me and I hope that justice can be done in finding the perpetrators
Richard Skinner
Rachel & Lilly Bell you will forever be in all of our hearts. You touched the lives of everyone you met & your smiles will never be forgotten
Chrissey
I do hope the person responsible (is) brought to justice, but must chastise those who automatically assume it is Neil . . . until it is proven that he performed the act, please, leave the blame-thrower in the garage
Mike
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Rachel and Lillian, my heart aches for you. I am so sorry that this happened. I love you and will miss you. My thoughts and prayers go out to your family
Julie
As for Neil, who the police say is a “person of interest” at this point, and his “traveling”, I think you need to return home and “face the music”. God help you
A concerned citizen