Police release CCTV images to help trace family's last movements
Police have released still and video CCTV images of Katherine Hooper in a bid to appeal for public information surrounding her and her son’s whereabouts in the hours before their death.
Katherine Hooper, 24, and her five-year-old son Joshua died after falling from rocks on Friday 12 July. Police discovered the body of her two-year-old son Sam at her home in Dukes Close, Paignton later that day.
A murder investigation was launched by Devon and Cornwall Police. They revealed over the weekend that the family had been the subject of a Safeguarding Partnership intervention and that a serious case review would be launched.
The Safeguarding Partnership, an alliance including the council, NHS and the police, is alerted if a person is thought to be in need of community care services because of mental illness or abuse.
Katherine Hooper is known to have left her home in Dukes Close, Paignton in a black private hire taxi at around 11.20am on Thursday 11 July.
She is seen on CCTV exiting the taxi outside the Spar in Kings Ash Road. She then is shown using the ATM before walking towards the camera and entering the store.
Minutes later she exits the shop and gets back into the waiting taxi and continues her journey to Haytor, arriving there at around midday.
She was wearing a distinctive blue and white hooped jumper. Police hope that this may jog someone’s memory as she was wearing a jumper on such a warm day.
Police are appealing for anyone who saw her in the shop, getting out of the taxi or at any time at Haytor to contact them and assist with this enquiry.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101 or via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
