Mum, two children and friend 'at sleepover' found dead at home
Hundreds attended the vigil for a woman and three children who were tragically killed at home during a sleepover on the weekend in the UK.
Terri Harris, 35, was found dead in her home on Sunday morning local time, along with her children, John Bennett, 13, and Lacey Bennett, 11, and Lacey's friend, Connie Gent, also 11.
Around 300 people attended the vigil on Monday evening in Killamarsh, Derbyshire only a few hundred metres from where the incident took place, to pay tribute to victims.
Police are treating the incident as murder and have arrested a 31-year-old man in connection with it.
Father posts heartbreaking tribute to Facebook
John and Lacey's father, Jason Bennett shared a heartbreaking tribute to his children on Facebook, saying he got the news during a four-hour drive home and is "absolutely broken".
"I didn't protect my beautiful babies enough from the monsters and now they have been suddenly taken away from me," he wrote.
"I'm writing this as I'm lost and broken on a 4-hour drive back home having just received heartbreaking news that my beautiful boy John and beautiful daughter Lacey have been taken away from me.
"Their mum Terri also lost her life and Lacey's best friend was also taken away from the world."
The grieving father continued saying life will "never be the same".
"I love you both more than anything. Please look after each other. Gone too soon with so much to live for.
"I wish I could hold you and kiss you and tell you how much I love you. Thank you for making my world. All my love dad."
In a later post, Mr Bennett wrote that "life will never be the same".
"When you [lose] the most precious things in your life and love more than life itself.
"When that's gone what's left. Absolutely nothing. You're dead inside. Look after your children. They are the love of your life and without them it's empty.
"Taken away too early."
Police arrested a man at the scene
In a statement, Derbyshire Constabulary said they were called to the home in Killamarsh at around 7.25am on Sunday following concerns about a man in the area.
"At 7.26am yesterday the force was called in relation to concerns for the safety of a man in Killamarsh," Chief Constable Rachel Swann said.
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"Four minutes later, when officers arrived at the house in Chandos Crescent, they found the bodies of 35-year-old Terri Harris, her two children, 11-year-old daughter Lacey Bennett and 13-year-old son John Paul Bennett, and Lacey’s friend Connie Gent, also 11, from Sheffield.
"The families of Terri, Lacey, John Paul and Connie have all been informed and my thoughts, along with all at Derbyshire Constabulary, are with them at this most tragic of times."
Constable Swann said it is believed to be an isolated incident.
"The man officers arrested at the scene, a 31-year-old from Killamarsh, remains in police custody on suspicion of the murders of Terri, Lacey, John Paul and Connie.
"A team of detectives have been working through the night to understand the circumstances that led to their deaths and I would urge anyone with any information to come forward.
"Of particular interest is anyone who was in the Chandos Crescent area between 9.30pm on Saturday evening and 7.30am the following day and who may have information that would be helpful to the investigation."
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