Heartbreaking tributes to mum stabbed to death as teen found dead by railway

06 January 2024 , 16:10

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Maya Bracken was discovered dead on Thursday

A "lovely" mum has been found stabbed to death in a car near home.

Tributes have poured in for Maya Bracken, 56, who was discovered dead less than one hour before a teenager was found deceased on a nearby railway track, in two tragedies police believe are linked.

A murder probe has been launched by Thames Valley Police in relation to Ms Bracken's death. The force says officers were called to a car crash involving a Lexus vehicle on the A340 near Pangbourne, Berkshire. The woman was pronounced dead despite best efforts by paramedics on Thursday afternoon.

Police say they then rushed to nearby Pangbourne Railway Station about half an hour later after getting calls about a teen on the tracks. He died at the scene.

Speaking today, Ms Bracken's neighbours said the mother was "lovely" and had been living in the area for a few years. One person said: "She split up from her husband and has a big house." Another said: "I'd always wave over when I walked past, she is a lovely woman.

Man in 30s dies after being stabbed in park sparking police probe

"When we saw all the police last night it was like a horror movie scene... They were running around all over the place. And then we heard another person had died at the train station. It's shocking for our little quiet village. So unusual."

Police have launched a murder investigation in Berkshire (Daniel Jae Webb / SWNS)

Speaking to Mail Online, one neighbour expressed their shock: "It's horrible, I can't believe what happened. We rushed out to help but the police were already here and then ambulances arrived. We were told to go home and they cordoned it all off."

Detective Superintendent Kevin Brown, head of the major crime unit, said on Friday: "We have launched a murder investigation after the death of a woman near Flower's Hill, Pangbourne, and the associated discovery of a deceased man at Pangbourne railway station.

"Firstly, I would like to send my condolences on behalf of the force to loved ones of both at this extremely difficult time."

He added: "We are in the very early stages of this complex investigation, but we are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with either death. We are still investigating but are treating the two deaths as linked; we are keeping an open mind as to the circumstances of each. There is no wider threat to the public from these sad and tragic incidents.

"We would ask anyone with information about the deaths to please call 101 or make a report on our website, quoting reference number 43240005369."

Bradley Jolly