Epsom College death updates — George Pattison gave ‘no indication’ before ‘killing wife Emma’ & school provides update

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Emma and friends enjoyed dinner party before horror struck

Emma Pattison and her killer husband enjoyed a last supper with friends hours before gun rampage.

A friend said: “On Saturday night they threw a dinner party. It was quite an intimate affair and literally turned out to be their last supper.

“Nothing unusual happened. There were no arguments, no indication he would go on to do something so horrific a short time later.”

Emma Pattison's final social media post

Emma Pattison's final social media post saw the much-loved headmistress share an award won by her school, Epsom College.

Alongside a smiling picture of her celebrating with champagne, she wrote on Twitter: “Wow! What an honour. We're thrilled to be Independent School of the Year.”

She later added: "It gets better every time I read it. Epsom College is school of the year."

Where is Epsom College?

The college is located in the Epsom Downs in Surrey.

Its aim was initially to provide accommodation for pensioned medical doctors or their widows and to provide a "liberal education" to 100 sons of "duly qualified medical men".

The foundation stone was laid on July 6, 1853.

Almost two years later, on June 25, 1855, the college was formally opened by Prince Albert and his son, the future King Edward VII.

Fees for the prestigious school cost up to £42,000 per year.

Epsom College death detectives probed by police watchdog

Surrey Police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) after it was revealed that its officer spoke to the alleged killer, George Pattison, about his gun licence just days before the death of the Pattison family.

 understands the review was carried out over the phone and officers did not visit the family home.

He is thought to have assured officers his weapon was safely stored, according to .

Detective Chief Inspector Kimball Edey, senior investigating officer on the case, said: "This is an incredibly traumatic incident and we are working around the clock to investigate and understand the exact circumstances which led to this point.

"We understand the public concern and upset, and we will clarify what we can, when we can, while respecting the right to a level of privacy for the families of those who have lost their lives.

"We are cooperating fully with the IOPC in relation to the referral we have made, and we await the outcome of its assessment of what further action may be required."

Timeline of double murder suicide

• 2016 - George Pattison reports his wife to police for allegedly striking him but then withdraws claim as he decided it was trivial, as per .
• September 2022 - Emma Pattison becomes the first female head of £42,000-a-year at Epsom College. The family moves on-site into a new home.
• November 2022 - the family gets a new dog Labrador, Bella.
• December 2022 - In a pupil-run podcast, Mrs Pattison describes the transition period as being full of "really big changes."
• January 2023 - Mrs Pattison said she hoped to shape a "really excitied future" in a magazine interview.
• February 2, 2023 - Mr Pattison alerts police of change of address.
• February 5, 2023 - the bodies of the Pattison Family are discovered at home at 1.10am.
• February 6, 2023 - A cordon was put in place at the school while detectives scour the area.
• February 7, 2023 - Cops treat the investigation as a case of a double murder and suicide.

Friends of Mrs Pattison pays tribute

Zoe Roberts, a teacher at Caterham School where Emma Pattison also used to teach, paid tribute to her former colleague.

She said: "It is tragic and we wish this had never happened. She was beautiful, inside and out. She was just the most wonderful person.

"We can’t put it into words at the moment, it is too raw. We are still working it out. It is just a tragic loss."

The chilling signs we know

The investigation into the death of the Pattison family is entering its fourth day and here are the three chilling signs that we know.

Firsly, the family living arrangements.

It was reported that the family only handed in the keys for their house in Caterham a few weeks ago as it is understood that Mr Pattison stayed behind at the four-bedroom home.

Then, there is the final call for help which Mrs Pattison made to her sister Deborah Kirk minutes before she was shot dead.

It's reported by the  that relatives rushed to the family home in the early hours of February 5 but it was too late as the family were found dead.

Then there is also the previous police report that Mr Pattison made about his wife hitting him in a domestic incident.

However,  reports that he later withdrew the claims, saying that the matter was trivial.

Other than that, Mr Pattison had no criminal history and was not on Surrey Police's radar.

George Pattison moved into Epsom College grounds later than his wife and daughter

Neighbours in Caterham said that nor Mrs Pattison nor her daughter were seen around their old house, however, Mr Pattison was.

It comes after the family gave their key to the old house a few weegs ago.

A neighbour told the : "I could see the lights on in the evening and his car was around but never hers."

A former neighbour added: "I wasn't sure if anybody had actually moved out because I'd seen George quite recently. I saw him in the run up to Christmas.

"He was by himself, Emma and Lettie were not with him. His BMW 8 Series was parked on the drive. Emma drove a 4x4 but I'd not seen that for a while.

"In fact the last time I spoke to Emma was just before she got the job at Epsom College because she was telling me how she'd just got it and was to become head teacher of this big, prestigious school.

"I hadn't seen her nor her daughter since that day and that must have been earlier last summer. I think she moved out before George.

"The new owners arrived about three weeks or so ago and just before they moved in, a removal firm had taken away the last remaining bits of furniture belonging to Emma and George from the house.

"It was George who handed the keys over to the estate agents. I think he'd been flitting between that house and the property at Epsom."

George Pattison previously contacted police about his wife in 2016

George Pattison had previously reported his wife to the police for allegedly striking him.

It's said that he contacted the Surrey Police to say his partner had hit him and she was spoken to by officers.

However,  revealed that he later withdrew the claim as he decided it was trivial.

What did the police say about the case?

Police suspect that George Pattison used a legally owned gun to kill his wife Emma, and his seven-year-old daughter before taking his own life.

Mr Pattison held a shotgun licence which has recently been updated and a weapon registered in his name.

The police haven't officially disclosed the cause of deaths but they are treating the case as a double murder-suicide.

The family were found dead at around 1.10am on February 5.

Cops say that George Pattison spoke to police days before killing

Cops revealed that on February 2, 2023, George Pattison alerted officers to a change of address after his family moved from Caterham, Surrey, to the grounds of Epsom College.

Cops said this was "routine", but due to how recently the update was made, the incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Emma Pattison became the first female head at Epsom College in September 2022.

Epsom College to close as police investigate ‘possible murder-suicide’

A private school where the headteacher was found dead alongside her husband and their daughter will reportedly close until after the half-term break as police conduct a homicide investigation.

According to the BBC, acting headmaster Paul Williams announced on Tuesday that the school will close until after the half-term break following the “incredibly distressing” details about how Emma Pattison died.

In a letter to parents, Mr Williams said: “Now is a time for families to come together and try and process this shocking news.“

The impact on your children cannot be underestimated and we are doing everything we possibly can to support them in whatever way they need.”

Emma Pattison made call to her sister minutes before she died

Epsom College headmistress Emma Pattison called her sister Deborah Kirk minutes before she was killed by her husband George.

The  reported that this urged family members to drive over to the Pattison home, found on the grounds of Epsom College in Surrey, in the early hours of Sunday.

Lettie described as ‘absolute angel’

John Wildgoose, a photographer who took the family’s portrait last month for the school’s announcement of Emma’s headship, described the youngster as “an absolute angel”.

He added: “It was amazing how she was for the camera, it’s heartbreaking.

“To me there was an obvious bond within the family, they seemed very together and excited about their future.”

Emma Pattison enjoyed last supper with pals hours before her death

Emma Pattison and her husband spent time with friends just hours before their deaths.

George Pattison, 39, gave no sign of being upset as he and Emma, 45, hosted a dinner party on the grounds of Epsom College.

A friend said: “On Saturday night they threw a dinner party. It was quite an intimate affair and literally turned out to be their last supper.

“Nothing unusual happened. There were no arguments, no indication he would go on to do something so horrific a short time later.”

How did police find Emma Pattison?

In a statement, Surrey Police confirmed how they discovered Emma Pattison and her family.

“In the early hours of this [Sun] morning, Surrey Police was contacted by the South East Coast Ambulance Service to attend a property in the grounds of Epsom College.

“Officers attended at around 01.10am where they, sadly, found the bodies of three people, including a child.

“We can confirm that the bodies found were Emma Pattison aged 45 years, head of Epsom College, her daughter Lettie, aged seven years and her husband George aged 39 years.

“The family’s next of kins have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

“An investigation is being carried out to establish the circumstances of their deaths. At this stage, police are confident that this is an isolated incident with no third-party involvement.”

What have the police said?

Detective Chief Inspector Kimball Edey, Senior Investigating Officer on the case, said today: “This is an incredibly traumatic incident and we are working around the clock to investigate and understand the exact circumstances which led to this point.

“We understand the public concern and upset, and we will clarify what we can, when we can, while respecting the right to a level of privacy for the families of those who have lost their lives.

“We are cooperating fully with the IOPC in relation to the referral we have made, and we await the outcome of its assessment of what further action may be required.”

Where is Epsom College?

The college is located in the Epsom Downs in Surrey.

Its aim was initially to provide accommodation for pensioned medical doctors or their widows and to provide a “liberal education” to 100 sons of “duly qualified medical men”.

The foundation stone was laid on July 6, 1853.

Almost two years later, on June 25, 1855, the college was formally opened by Prince Albert and his son, the future King Edward VII.

Fees for the prestigious school cost up to £42,000 per year.

Emma Pattison’s final social media post

Emma Pattison’s final social media post saw the much-loved headmistress share an award won by her school, Epsom College.

Alongside a smiling picture of her celebrating with champagne, she wrote on Twitter: “Wow! What an honour. We’re thrilled to be Independent School of the Year.”

She later added: “It gets better every time I read it. Epsom College is school of the year.”

Epsom College death detectives probed by police watchdog

Surrey Police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) after it was revealed that its officer spoke to the alleged killer, George Pattison, about his gun licence just days before the death of the Pattison family.

 understands the review was carried out over the phone and officers did not visit the family home.

He is thought to have assured officers his weapon was safely stored, according to .

Detective Chief Inspector Kimball Edey, senior investigating officer on the case, said: “This is an incredibly traumatic incident and we are working around the clock to investigate and understand the exact circumstances which led to this point.

“We understand the public concern and upset, and we will clarify what we can, when we can, while respecting the right to a level of privacy for the families of those who have lost their lives.

“We are cooperating fully with the IOPC in relation to the referral we have made, and we await the outcome of its assessment of what further action may be required.”

Timeline of double murder suicide

• 2016 – George Pattison reports his wife to police for allegedly striking him but then withdraws claim as he decided it was trivial, as per .
• September 2022 – Emma Pattison becomes the first female head of £42,000-a-year at Epsom College. The family moves on-site into a new home.
• November 2022 – the family gets a new dog Labrador, Bella.
• December 2022 – In a pupil-run podcast, Mrs Pattison describes the transition period as being full of “really big changes.”
• January 2023 – Mrs Pattison said she hoped to shape a “really excitied future” in a magazine interview.
• February 2, 2023 – Mr Pattison alerts police of change of address.
• February 5, 2023 – the bodies of the Pattison Family are discovered at home at 1.10am.
• February 6, 2023 – A cordon was put in place at the school while detectives scour the area.
• February 7, 2023 – Cops treat the investigation as a case of a double murder and suicide.

Tributes continue to pour in

Following the sad news, tributes have continued to pour in.

One wrote: ''The whole Croydon High community are joining together to support one another and to honour the memory of our former Head, Emma Pattison and her daughter Lettie, who was a pupil in our Junior School.''

A second said: ''Everyone at @UKMathsTrust is saddened to hear the tragic news @EpsomCollegeUK and would like to pay our respects to Emma Pattison and her family. The College's pupils, staff and community are in our thoughts.''

Emma Pattison was Epsom College’s first-ever female headmaster

Emma Pattison became the first woman to lead Epsom College when she took on the role of headmistress last September.

This came after Mrs Pattison spent 6 years as the headmistress of Croydon High School in south London.

Upon taking on the role at Epsom College Mrs Pattison described it as a “really big change” for her family.