A school principal who was allegedly shot dead in a reported murder-suicide is claimed to have made a distressed call to her sister moments before she died.
Emma Pattinson, 45, was the principal of Epsom College and had begun working there at the start of the academic year in September 2022.
Emma was found dead at the school on Sunday morning, along with her 39-year-old husband George, and their seven-year-old daughter Lettie, per BBC News.
The Telegraph reported that gunshots were heard before the three bodies were discovered, which prompted other staff at the school to call for the emergency services.
Further reports from BBC News say the evidence indicates that George murdered his wife and child before taking his own life in what is now believed to be a murder-suicide.
Police have confirmed that a firearm licensed and registered to George was discovered at the scene, with a routine phone call being made to the 39-year-old to update the address on his license just days before the tragedy occurred.
It is now understood that Emma made a frantic phone call to her sister just minutes before losing her life, as reported by the Daily Mail.
The call to Deborah Kirk and her husband alarmed the family, causing them to drive to Surrey in a state of panic, but tragically when they arrived the family of three had already died.
Acting headmaster Paul Williams said: "Now is a time for families to come together and try and process this shocking news," before adding that parents of students at the school should keep a "close eye" on their children.
"The impact on your children cannot be underestimated and we are doing everything we possibly can to support them in whatever way they need," he continued.
Credit: Julia Gavin / Alamy
Detective Chief Inspector Kimball Edey 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."
Emma made history by becoming the first female principal at Epsom College and received praise in her short time there for her leadership skills.
Sources suggested to the Daily Mail that Emma and George had been living separately in the last few months as they waited for the sale of their house to be finalized.
"I wasn't sure if anybody had actually moved out because I'd seen George quite recently," the source said. "I saw him in the run-up to Christmas. He was by himself, Emma and Lettie were not with him."
The school will remain closed until after the half-term break, and an official cause of death is yet to be released.
