Tributes paid to mum and daughter murdered in Cheadle as man is arrested
Neighbours have paid tribute to a "lovely" 91-year-old woman who was found dead alongside her daughter at their home on New Year’s Eve.
Officers were called to the detached property on Park Lane in Cheadle on Sunday afternoon. Staffordshire police confirmed they had arrested a 68-year-old man on suspicion of two counts of murder.
The two women, named locally on Monday as Joyce Wilshaw, 91, and her daughter, Karen Wilshaw, 63, were found in the house, which they shared along with Karen's partner. Detectives have said they are “keeping an open mind regarding the circumstances leading up to the women’s deaths”.
Mrs Wilshaw was a “lovely woman”, according to neighbours who lived in the lane, which leads out to the Staffordshire countryside. Mrs Wilshaw had lived at the house for many years, possibly since it had been built, they said. She had first lived there with her husband, but after he died more than a decade ago her daughter moved in with her partner. The couple had moved from the south of England about eight or nine years ago.
Karen would often be seen by neighbours pushing her mother Joyce into the nearby centre of Cheadle in a wheelchair. Residents said they heard the sound of the air ambulance on Sunday afternoon before the street filled with emergency vehicles.
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Karen Wilshaw was also named locally as a victim“She was a lovely woman,” said Pensioner Ted Clowes who confirmed he had known Mrs Wilshaw for many years. His wife would often visit her after she was widowed, he siad, but this lessened when her daughter moved back in. Mr Clowes said: “What a thing to happen on New Year’s Eve. It’s terrible, it really is.
“We were sitting here and the helicopter came over. It made such a noise. That was the first thing we knew about it. Then there were quite a few police cars arrived and the whole street filled up with emergency vehicles. It’s so quiet round here. You just don’t think something like this will happen.”
Another neighbour said: “We saw the helicopter from our home. It startled us and we came out to have a look. I don’t know what’s happened.”
But both mother and daughter are now dead after the discovery of their bodies on New Year's Eve afternoon (Stoke Sentinel / BPM Media)Karen Wilshaw and her partner were keen golfers and prominent members of Leek Golf Club, about eight miles from their home. A section of Park Lane was sealed off on Monday morning between the house where the incident happened and the town centre.
Forensics officers could be seen going in and out of the property in white suits, which is a modern bungalow with dormer windows in the roof. A white police tent had been set up next to the back of the property and a white Mercedes and a silver Volvo were parked on the extensive drive to the front. The Volvo was removed by police on a low-loader truck.
In a statement, Staffordshire Police said: “Officers were called to Park Lane at 3pm on December 31 to reports a woman’s body had been found and another woman was injured. Despite the best efforts of paramedics and officers, both women, aged 63 and 91, were pronounced dead at approximately 3.50pm.
A white police tent could be seen in the garden of the property on Park Lane, Cheadle, Staffordshire (PA)“A 68-year-old man from Cheadle has been arrested on suspicion of two counts of murder. He currently remains in custody for questioning. Detectives from our major investigation department continue to investigate and are keeping an open mind regarding the circumstances leading up to the women’s deaths.
“A scene remains at the house to explore forensic opportunities. Post-mortems on both bodies will take place on January 2. House-to-house inquiries are continuing and nearby residents will see an increase of local officers in the area to provide reassurance and assist with evidence gathering.”
The force has created an online portal where people can leave information and any CCTV, smart doorbell or dashcam footage that they may have.
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