 A family photograph of Robert and Mary Powell with their son, Neil |
Police are investigating a break-in at the house of a couple who are thought to have killed themselves after their son was found hanged. Robert and Mary Powell, both 56, from Carmarthenshire, were found dead hours after hearing their son Neil Robert Powell, 27, died.
Dyfed Powys Police have said a burglary took place at their house at Taliaris, near Llandeilo, over the weekend.
Local vicar Rev Dr Peter Bement described the break-in as "dreadful".
Robert Powell's body was found in an outhouse at their home on Friday 15 July, and his wife's body was later recovered from a nearby reservoir.
The day before, their son Neil Powell was discovered hanging from a tree near a paper mill in the Maesteg area of south Wales.
All three are due to be cremated together at a funeral in Bridgend crematorium on Thursday.
 |  Any burglary is bad enough but robbing the dead seems particularly horrible |
Police have said Mr and Mrs Powell's house was broken into at some point on Friday night or in the early hours of Saturday morning.
"We can confirm there has been a break-in at the address and inquiries are continuing," said a spokesman.
"Anyone with any information about the incident should contact us."
The Rev Dr Peter Bement said: "There is a continuing sense of sadness in the local community that two of our neighbours should have met with such a tragic end.
"How dreadful that there has been a break-in at the Powells' house," he said.
"Any burglary is bad enough but robbing the dead seems particularly horrible."
Speaking after the deaths were discovered two weeks ago, Detective Chief Inspector Martin Davies said there were no suspicious circumstances and police were not looking for anyone else.
 The family home was the target of burglars |
"He was their only son and it is evident that they were a very close family," he said.
"This is a tragic incident involving two generations of the same family."
He said the last sighting of Mr and Mrs Powell was on Thursday evening as they drove away from their home in Taliaris.
Apparently they drove to the Llyn Brianne reservoir near Llandovery where Mrs Powell's body was found.
It is understood that Mr Powell returned home to tidy up his affairs and write letters before killing himself.
Post mortem examinations have been carried out on all three bodies and inquests into the deaths have been opened and adjourned.
One-Minute World News 
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
