LONDON, England – Police in the United Kingdom believe a man who allegedly murdered his wife and two daughters has fled to his hometown of Bulawayo.
Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, 42, and Natalie, 15, and Nala, five, were found dead in a detached house in Great Denham, near Bedford, on Monday.
Bedfordshire police believe they were murdered and Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, 45, who goes by Mark, has been identified as a suspect.
The force has issued a CCTV image of Tshuma, a British citizen of Zimbabwean heritage, who is believed to have left the country from Heathrow airport bound for Zimbabwe on a British passport on Saturday.
Lee Martin of Bedfordshire Police said: “We have been carrying out numerous lines of inquiry as part of this fast-paced, complex investigation. We know that Mark Tshuma left the country on Saturday and is now believed to be in Zimbabwe.
“We are urgently working to find and apprehend him, and would appeal to him directly to hand himself in.”
Addressing the suspect directly, Martin said: “Mark, unthinkable harm has been caused to those around you, and this has left your relatives and friends utterly devastated. Criminal investigation knows no borders.”
UK police said they were “actively working with national and international agencies to pursue every available line of inquiry to track him down.”
Martin added: “Please do the right thing, come forward and hand yourself in to local authorities. Our thoughts are still very much with Zandile, Natalie and Nala, as well as all of those who loved and knew them, at this extremely difficult time.”
A woman who was among five people who laid flowers outside the family’s house on Tuesday said of Zandile Tshuma: “We’re really sorry to lose her. She’s was such a gracious mother.”
