Family killed in South Bermondsey mass stabbing named with relatives left ‘devastated’

The four family members found stabbed to death inside a south London home have been named.

Grandmother Dolet Hill, 64, her partner Denton Burke, 58, her daughter Tanysha (aka Rachquel) Ofori-Akuffo, 45, and her granddaughter Samantha Drummonds, 27, all died in a vicious attack in the early hours of Monday morning.

Dolet and her partner Denton lived together on Delaford Rd, south Bermondsey, where the horrific incident occurred.

Tanysha lived in Kennington, while her daughter Samantha resided in Forest Hill, Lewisham.

A friend of Tracey Henry, Tanysha’s other daughter, said: “Tracey is absolutely devastated right now, she can’t talk to anyone. She’s lost four members of her family.

“Why it happened we just don’t know. It’s a really bad time for us all.”

The Metropolitan Police confirmed the four victims were three women aged in their mid 60s, 40s and 30s, and a man in his mid 60s.

A man in his 20s has been arrested on suspicion of murder and was taken to a south London police station, where he remains in custody.

Southwark Borough Commander Ch Supt Colin Wingrove confirmed that detectives were not looking for any one else in relation to the deaths at this stage.

Special post-mortem examinations have been arranged for Tuesday and Wednesday after which formal identification is due to take place.

Police made a “dreadful discovery” when they broke down the door of a house in Delaford Road, South Bermondsey, at 1.40am on Monday.

Despite the efforts of emergency services, the victims were pronounced dead at the scene.

Dolet’s niece, Venecia Reid, told The Independent her mother’s sister used to work as a housekeeper at Guy’s and St Thomas’s Hospital.

She described Ms Hill as a “very nice lady, very friendly, she is a Christian”.

"She does not deserve this,” she said.

Ms Reid said the family, who she described as “really close”, originally moved to the UK from Jamaica.

Detective Chief Inspector Linda Bradley, who leads the investigation, said: “This was a truly horrific incident and I fully recognise that the distress for the family and the community will be overwhelming.

“We are conducting a thorough and detailed investigation into the facts and we are appealing to anyone who can assist with any information to come forward.

“If you know anything or saw anything that you think might help us piece together the events which led to this, then do not hesitate, please call the police.

“You can also call Crimestoppers if you do not want to give your name.”

“We deeply appreciate all the help we have already received from local people and I would like to thank them for their patience and support in what is likely to be a protracted inquiry.

“We are moving as fast as we can at the scene, but we need to ensure we uncover all the facts and secure every bit of necessary evidence and this may understandably take some time.

“We are aware that we have family, friends and a community that are all asking questions, we are determined to give them the answers they deserve as soon as possible.”

One neighbour said that the victims were all part of the same family.

The neighbour, 55, told LondonWorld that he had heard screams coming from the house in the middle of the night.

He said: “Roughly around 1.30am I heard some screaming.

“It sounded like someone was getting battered, having a fight or getting beaten.

“I opened the window and didn’t see anything.

“I was dozing off again and then I heard the helicopters.

“When I opened the windows again I saw loads of police cars, four ambulances, helicopters hovering around.

“There were a lot of armed police here.

“It’s unsettling, unnerving - a very barbaric act.”

Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to call police on 101 or contact via Twitter @MetCC. Please quote CAD 406/25APR.

To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.