A GP is believed to have been murdered at her home near the King’s Sandringham estate while hosting a children’s sleepover.
Hannah Cain, who was in her 40s, was found dead at her property in Dersingham, Norfolk, in the early hours of Sunday.
A man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody.
Norfolk Police said on Monday afternoon that officers had been granted additional time to question the suspect.
The surgery in nearby Grimston where Ms Cain worked was closed on Monday. Colleagues at Grimston Medical Centre said the decision followed “extremely difficult circumstances affecting our practice team”.
She was known professionally as Dr Hannah Terry and also worked for the cosmetic treatments company Norfolk Sky Aesthetics.
Residents near Dr Terry’s detached £800,000 home said she had young children who had invited friends to stay for a sleepover.
The visiting children were reportedly taken back to their families after police were called to the large property, around a mile from Sandringham House, at 2.20am on Sunday.
Hannah Cain, who was in her 40s, was found dead at her home in Dersingham, Norfolk, in the early hours of Sunday
A man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody
A police cordon was placed around the house, while an access road was still closed on Monday.
Police were alerted by ambulance crews and sent to the mother-of-three’s home. Dr Cain and her husband, Mark Cain, bought the property jointly in March 2021 for £760,000.
Detectives have not yet released the findings of a post-mortem examination, due to be carried out by a Home Office pathologist, which is expected to establish how she died.
Several bouquets of flowers had been left outside the property. Police vehicles and forensic officers were also at the scene, along with about six special operations officers who arrived in a van and parked in a neighbour’s drive.
The officers were seen putting on blue gloves before going inside the house.
Villagers described Dersingham as a usually peaceful community and said they had been deeply shocked by the tragedy.
One resident, who said Dr Terry had lived in the area for about 10 years, said: “She was just a lovely human being with three gorgeous young children.
“Something’s obviously gone very badly wrong. I’m just out of words, we all are.”
A neighbour in his 90s said: “I didn’t know anything until the police came.
“I very rarely saw them. The children were lovely, two boys and a younger girl.”
‘They used to kick their football into my garden and I’d throw it back to them, or they’d come and ask me if they could come in and look for it.’
‘You read about things like this happening in other places,’ another neighbour said. ‘But nothing like it ever happens this close to home.’
The police cordon remained in place today as officers continued to question the suspect
Another man who has lived in the area for half a century said there was little crime there.
‘Dersingham might not have a centre but it’s got a heart,’ he said.
Another resident said: ‘It’s the sort of place where if you forget to lock your car and leave it out all night nothing will happen to it.’
A surgery spokesman said on social media: ‘We are sorry to let patients know that Grimston Medical Centre, including the dispensary, is temporarily closed due to extremely difficult circumstances affecting our practice team.
‘We apologise for the disruption and appreciate your patience and understanding at what is a very difficult time for our colleagues.’
Detective Inspector Alix Wright, of Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team, said: ‘We are in the very early stages of this investigation working to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the woman’s death.
‘I’d ask anyone who believes they may have information that could help our investigation to please share this with us.’
Dr Terry started working at Grimston Medical Centre last year after leaving the doctor’s practice in nearby Heacham last June.
A statement on the Heacham Group Practice website said at the time that she was leaving ‘to allow her to spend more time with her young family’.
It added: ‘We are all very sad to see her leave and are very grateful for all her hard work, support and advice over the last nine years. We wish her all the very best for the future.’
Norfolk Police said: ‘Today (Monday 5 October) officers applied to Great Yarmouth Magistrates’ Court for a warrant of further detention.
‘The warrant will allow them an additional 32 hours to question the man.
‘A cordon is still in place at the address while we continue to carry out enquiries.’
An earlier Norfolk Police statement said: ‘Officers were called to a house in Fern Hill, Dersingham, shortly after 2.20am on Sunday, 4 October, by the ambulance service.
‘Sadly, a woman aged in her 40s was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after police arrived.
‘A man aged in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of murder and taken to King’s Lynn Police Investigation Centre for questioning. He remains in custody.
‘Detectives from the Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team have launched a murder investigation.’
