A Canadian woman is under arrest after her two young children were found dead in their upscale London, England, home.
Felicia Boots’ husband, investment banker Jeff Boots, also from Canada, discovered the bodies of their 10-week-old boy and 14-month-old daughter when he returned home from work on Wednesday night.
Their mother, a 34-year-old Canadian jewellery designer, was detained by police at the family’s 1.2 million pound ($1.94-million) semi-detached home in Wandsworth, South London. The two babies were pronounced dead at the scene, a Scotland Yard spokesman told the newspaper.
Jeff and Felicia Boots
Ms. Boots was arrested on “suspicion of murder” and is in custody at a South London police station.
“Detectives from the Child Abuse Investigation Command are leading the investigation, and inquiries continue into the full circumstances of the incident,” said Scotland Yard.
Ms. Boots is also believed to have attempted suicide before her arrest.
Mr. Boots, who had previously worked at BMO Capital Markets, was heard wailing in the street shortly before paramedics and police arrived at their five-bedroom home.
“I heard him, he was obviously upset, it was not really sobbing, but I don’t want to say what I heard,” a neighbour told the Telegraph. “It was just after 7 p.m. and the man I heard had a North American accent. I had never seen the mother as they had only just moved in.”
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A photo taken from Felicia Boots' Facebook page believed to be of her young daughter who died in the family home Wednesday.
Another neighbour, Oliver Jones, told that about 40 emergency workers, including police and ambulance officers, arrived at the family’s home on Wednesday night.
Ms. Boots was led out of the home about two hours later, he added.
“She seemed very placid, she was very calm,” Mr. Jones said. “She walked to the police car. She was not in handcuffs.”
The family moved from Canada to the U.K. a few years ago. Mr. Boots had previously worked for the Royal Bank of Canada.
RBC would not comment on personnel matters, but a spokeswoman said: “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Jeff and his family.”
A recent picture of a baby taken from Jeffrey Boots' Facebook page believed to be his 10-week-old son.
Some of the Boots’ neighbours told the London Evening Standard that the couple had moved in to the three-storey home just recently.
“It’s such a tragedy, I can’t believe it,” said Jackie Cook, 52. “Last night there were police swarming everywhere. There were ambulances and police cars all along the road. I think they only moved a couple of weeks ago.”
On Wednesday, forensic officers left the Boots’ home with bags of potential evidence, including children’s clothing and documents.
Ms. Boots was a trained stylist but launched her own jewellery company, Pink Tangerine, after moving to the U.K.
“Being a hair stylist is my first and foremost passion but as an artist it’s magical to experience different creative outlets,” she wrote. “I’ve always had a desire to tap into the world of fashion and accessories and so Pink Tangerine was born.”
She also wrote on her website she hoped to “achieve greatly.”
“Some small business ventures, design courses, life experiences, and advice from some important people in my life have helped me to grow and cultivate my desire to give some beauty back to the world by way of my creative passions.”
Peter Kyriacou, the owner of PeterPenny’s Hair and Beauty in London, described Ms. Boots as “a very special artist,” in a testimonial on Ms. Boots’ jewellery website.
“I have had the pleasure of working alongside Felicia for the last four years. Along with being attentive and unassuming, Felicia is very creative and multitalented,” he said.
Lisa Fenn, a sommelier from Toronto, described Ms. Boots on the website as “fearless.”
“Felicia has such great spirit and a real magnetism — I am sure she will knock your socks off,” Ms. Fenn also said in an online testimonial.
“She has no inhibitions, she reaches out to as many people as possible to make connections and friendships.”
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