British Millionaire 'Killed Family, Torched House'
Police believe British millionaire murdered his family and torched his mansion.
LONDON, Sept 2, 2008 — -- It began as an arson investigation at a $2.2 million mansion, but today British police revealed that they believe millionaire Christopher Foster murdered his wife and daughter, before setting fire to his mansion and finally shooting himself.
According to a police statement released today to end a week of rampant media speculation, the bodies of Christopher Foster, 50, and his wife, Jillian, 49 were found Friday, and a bullet was found in Jillian's head. A third body, which police believe is their daughter, Kirstie, 15, was found Sunday but has not yet been identified.
Detective Superintendent Jon Groves of the West Mercia Constabulary said in a statement that "the location of the third body found on Sunday suggests that it is Kirstie Foster, but further tests are needed on this body to confirm identity."
Footage recovered from surveillance cameras show a man, who police believe was Christopher Foster, walking around the grounds of the mansion in the early hours last Tuesday morning. He appeared to be carrying a rifle in his hands.
The fire broke out last Tuesday at the family home in Maesbrook in the west Midlands area of England around 5 a.m. and burned buildings on the property so badly that police were not able to fully enter the property until last Friday.
According to the police statement, the surveillance footage shows outbuildings going up in flames and a horse truck being driven in front of the gates of the mansion. In the footage, a man who police believe is Foster is seen getting out of the truck and shooting two of the tires.
Groves, who is leading the investigation, said he had decided to reveal details of the investigation in an effort to end the speculation that was taking place in the media.
"We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths at this stage. This was a terrible tragedy, and our thoughts remain with the families of the Fosters at this time," he said in the statement.
A .22-caliber rifle legally owned by Christopher Foster was found near the bodies. It has not yet been established if it was the murder weapon.
The family's three horses and four dogs were also found shot dead in different parts of the home.
Police have emphasized that the investigation of the burned-out home would continue in order to "establish exactly what happened the morning of the fire, including tests on whether the rifle recovered Friday was the murder weapon," Groves said.
Millionaire businessman Chris Foster made millions working on insulation technology for oil rigs. He was managing director of Ulva Ltd., a thermal insulation company that went into liquidation last year. It is reported that court documents show that he owed thousands of dollars to his company's suppliers and around $1.4 million to tax authorities.
Kirstie Foster who is still officially unaccounted for is a student at Ellesmere College, a private school in Ellesmere, Shropshire, England. The school's head teacher, Brendan Wignall said in a statement Kirstie is a charming, popular and hardworking girl with many friends."
Her friends have posted messages on her Web page on the social networking web site Bebo.
One girl, Chloe, wrote: "I can't belive that one of the bodys was your mam. RIP Jill Foster. I hope that the other body isnt your dad.
"And I hope they dont find any mor an your just havin a week somewer with your dad or sumink."