Missing car link to Northampton family murder
A missing car could hold the key to the killing of a couple and their two daughters, who were all found stabbed at a house in Northampton.
Police want to trace a silver five-door Vauxhall Corsa, registration BG60 PMO, that was hired by one of the family members and was last seen on Friday.
The family was named locally as college lecturer Jifeng Ding, his wife Helen Chui, and daughters Alice and Xing.
They were attacked at their detached home in the Wootton area of the town.
Police said they did not think it was a random attack. They are believed to be investigating the background of the family - who are of Chinese descent - to try to establish a motive for the murder.
One line of inquiry is a comment posted on Facebook which appears to have been made by the eldest daughter.
A tribute page set up on the website to Xing, 18, Alice, 11, has been joined by more than 1,500 people.
On a separate page, comments have been made by students at Manchester Metropolitan University in praise of Xing and Alice's father Jifeng, who was known as Jeff.
Helen Chui is believed to have worked locally as a teacher.
The bodies of the family were found on Sunday evening after police were called by neighbours who had noticed that the curtains of the family's home had remained drawn over the weekend.
A Northamptonshire Police spokesman said: "At this moment in time the motive behind the deaths does not appear to be due to burglary or robbery.
"Local officers are conducting house-to-house inquiries and are liaising with residents and local people to offer reassurance and advice over any safety concerns.
"We do not believe there is any risk to the wider public."
A spokesman for Manchester Metropolitan University said it was assisting police following the deaths.