A mother and her eight-year-old daughter who were found dead in a suspected murder-suicide in Salford have been named locally. Martina, 40, and her daughter Eleni, who sources say was “severely disabled”, were discovered at a house on South Radford Street on Monday morning.
Emergency services had been scrambled to the scene over concerns for their welfare and were met with a tragedy. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have launched an investigation, with detectives treating the incident as a suspected murder-suicide, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Martina and Eleni were named by friends and neighbours. It’s understood that Salford Council was involved in Eleni’s care, and the local authority has been contacted for further comment.
One friend said she was shocked to hear the “worst had happened” after learning the heartbreaking news. A neighbour who knew Martina said she was a “loving” mother. She added: “It’s so hard to come to terms with.”
Another neighbour said he often saw Martina getting Eleni into the car in the mornings, adding that it looked like “incredibly hard work”. Another local added: “It’s so tragic. Just so awful that she got to that point.”
Martina was believed to be half-Italian and half-Polish, and had been living on South Radford Street for around two years. Another resident said: “All I could say was she was a loving and devoted mother to the little girl. Eleni was severely disabled and hugely dependent on her mum.
“She had a walking frame and she would walk with her mum up and down the street outside their house. A bus would come to take the girl to a special school each day. Martina was quite a closed person.
“A police van arrived outside the house with lights flashing. I came downstairs to have a look then a policewoman knocked on the door and asked if I had seen my neighbour. Then the fire brigade came and got in at the back of the house, breaking the glass. After that the police came and asked us to go back inside.”
GMP have confirmed they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths. In a statement issued yesterday, Detective Superintendent Simon Moyles, of GMP’s Salford district, said: “A woman and young girl were both tragically found dead and we are working hard as a team to establish what happened here this morning.
“Whilst we are not actively looking for anyone else in relation to this investigation, I understand the news of their deaths and the large police and emergency services presence at the address will most likely cause some concern to residents and those further afield in Greater Manchester. I want to reassure them that we believe this to be an isolated incident with no wider threat in the community.
“A cordon has been put in place and there is a scene contained on South Radford Street. We continue to thank the public for their patience as we respond in the area.
“We have placed a number of highly visible officers to patrol in and around the area should any residents wish to come and talk to us or pass on any information they may have about this tragic incident. If you have any information, contact us on 101 quoting log 998 of September 23, 2024.”
A Salford council spokesperson said: “We are aware of the terribly sad news this morning and our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of those who have tragically lost their lives. We’re working closely with GMP and assisting them with their ongoing investigation and our teams will be supporting both local residents and council staff who have no doubt been greatly affected by the events today.”
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