Who killed Emma Pattison? Gunshots heard before mystery deaths of Epsom College principal and family
![A flag flies at half mast at Epsom College after the school's head, Emma Pattison, was found dead alongside her family on February 6 (Carl Court/Getty Images, Emma Pattison/LinkedIn)](http://d2a0gza273xfgz.cloudfront.net/604135/uploads/634deba0-a632-11ed-b3cb-e5fa46804c8f_1200_630.png)
SURREY, ENGLAND: In a shocking incident in England's Surrey, the headteacher of a private school was found dead alongside her husband and 7-year-old daughter on February 6. The deceased teacher, 45-year-old Emma Pattison, had not even completed a year at the prestigious Epsom College, local media reported. Epsom College confirmed the tragic incident in a tweet, saying that the college community "will be coming together today (February 6) to process the news, grieve and pay our respects to a wonderful Head.
In the same Twitter thread, the college, established in 1855, informed that they will be in close contact with Surrey Police over the coming weeks and months. "We will be in close contact with Surrey Police over the coming weeks and months. We hope everyone will respect the privacy of Emma's family at this time and allow the College's pupils, staff and wider community the time and space necessary to come to terms with this loss," they wrote in their tweet.
READ MORE
Emma Pattison: School principal found dead in her academy's grounds along with husband and daughter
The shocking and tragic news has now reached many about the death of our Head, Emma Pattison. The College community will be coming together today to process the news, grieve and pay our respects to a wonderful Head. 1/3
— Epsom College (@EpsomCollegeUK) February 6, 2023
Who killed Emma Pattison?
Police are yet to narrow down on any suspects. Surrey Police have assured that a thorough investigation will be conducted, as reported by The Guardian. Police believe that the crime was an isolated incident. “While this is believed to be an isolated incident, in the coming days, our local officers will remain in the area to offer reassurance to students, parents, teachers, and the local community," the British publication quoted Insp Jon Vale, Epsom and Ewell’s borough commander, as saying.
Meanwhile, gunshots were heard around the time of the killings, as per a report by The Irish Sun. The Pattison family home is just yards from the college's indoor rifle range, which has reportedly been cordoned off by police, as per the publication.
Who was Emma Pattison?
Emma Pattison became the first female head of Epsom, one of England's most prestigious institutions, with alumni such as Conservative MP Sir Michael Fallon and broadcaster Jeremy Vine, in September last year, as per a BBC report. Boarding students at the college pay over £42,000 (over $50,500) a year, according to the report.
Before joining Epsom, Pattison served as head teacher of Croydon High School in south London for six years. She had over a decade of experience in the academic field and joined Crayton High School in 2016, as per her LinkedIn profile. Before her six-year-long association with Crayton, Patison worked as the Academic Deputy Head of St John's School Leatherhead in Surrey for four years. Her husband, George, was a chartered accountant who was the director of a management consultancy firm called Tanglewood 2016, The Guardian reported, citing Companies House.