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The boyfriend of a mother, found dead alongside her two children and one of their best friends after a sleepover, has been arrested on suspicion of their murders.
Lacey and John Paul Bennett, 11 and 13, were found dead alongside their mother Terri Harris, 35, and Lacey’s best friend Connie Gent, also 11, on Sunday morning, September 19, in a house in Chandos Crescent in Killamarsh, Derbyshire, England.
Best friends, Connie and Lacey, had a sleepover on Saturday night, September 18, before they were found dead the following morning.
Damien Bendall, 31, was detained at the scene by police after they discovered the four bodies.
Relatives of Ms Harris and neighbours confirmed that Bendall had been in a relationship with her.
It came as the father of one of the girls killed, Charlie Gent, shared emotional footage of his daughter Connie Gent.
The 20-second video showed his little girl looking happy with him and his partner Julie Potts.
It came just hours after Jason Bennett, whose daughter Lacey and son John Paul were found dead, commented on their deaths
Mr Bennett had earlier rushed from a holiday in Devon to the site of the killings in Chandos Crescent in Killamarsh, which is near Sheffield but over the Derbyshire border.
Bennett cried bitterly as he laid flowers for his children at the police cordon around the semi-detached house on Monday night, September 20.
Mr Bennett laying flowers for his kids
Mr Bennett stayed at the scene for more than half-an-hour on Monday, and said he was “heartbroken; million pieces; shattered”.
Derbyshire Police said a 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder at the scene and remains in custody, with officers not having any prior contact with those involved.
