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First image of mother and two children found murdered in Great Denham house near Bedford as police release CCTV of suspect believed to have left country
- Jul 8
- 3 min read
THIS is the first picture of a mother and her two children found murdered in their home.
Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, 42, known as Zandile (L), and daughters Nala, 5 (centre) and Natalie, 15 (R) were found dead at a property near Bedford.
Police were called on Monday (6 July) regarding concerns for a mother and her two children who had not been seen for several days.
A number of enquiries were carried out before police forced entry into a property in Carnoustie Drive, Great Denham, where they discovered the bodies of a woman and two children.
A murder investigation has now been launched by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit and specialist teams are being deployed, along with increased patrols from uniformed officers in the Great Denham area.
Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, who also goes by the name of Mark, aged 45 and from Bedford, is believed to have left the country from Heathrow Airport on a British passport on Saturday (4 July). He is a British citizen of Zimbabwean heritage.
Officers from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit launched a murder investigation on Tuesday (7 July) after the bodies of a woman and two children were discovered at a property in Great Denham.
Although formal identification has yet to take place, police believe them to be his wife Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, 42, known as Zandile, and his daughters Natalie, 15, and Nala, 5.
Detective Inspector Lee Martin, senior investigating officer, (below) said: “We have been carrying out numerous lines of enquiry as part of this fast-paced, complex investigation. We know that Mark Tshuma left the country on Saturday and is now believed to be in Zimbabwe.
“We are urgently working to find and apprehend him, and would appeal to him directly to hand himself in.
“Mark, unthinkable harm has been caused to those around you, and this has left your relatives and friends utterly devastated. Criminal investigation knows no borders. We are actively working with national and international agencies to pursue every available line of enquiry to track you down.
“Please do the right thing, come forward and hand yourself in to local authorities.
“Our thoughts are still very much with Zandile, Natalie and Nala, as well as all of those who loved and knew them, at this extremely difficult time.”
Anyone who has any information about Tshuma or witnessed anything unusual or suspicious in the days leading up to Saturday, please do contact us. Any information – no matter how small – could be beneficial to this investigation.
On Tuesday Assistant Chief Constable John Murphy said: “This is a deeply distressing incident in which a mother and her two children are believed to have been murdered.
“Our thoughts are first and foremost with all those affected.
“We recognise that this will cause concern in the local community and beyond.
“This is the early stages of what is an incredibly complex investigation. We are committing all necessary resources to establish exactly what has happened and to find the person responsible.
“As a result of enquiries undertaken so far, we have identified a suspect, who was known to all three victims, and who we believe has since left the country.
“While there is nothing to suggest there is any wider risk to the public, we will be increasing the police presence in and around the area to support the investigation and provide reassurance to residents.
“I would ask anyone who may have information about this incident, or who may have heard or seen any suspicious activity in Carnoustie Drive, particularly on Friday and Saturday, to please come forward to police as soon as possible. Any information, no matter how small, could help our investigation.
“I would also ask people to be mindful of the privacy of the victims and avoid speculating about what might have happened.”
Anyone with information with should contact police via the webchat service on www.beds.police.uk or call 101 quoting Operation Snowdrift.
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This is truly shocking and outrageous. Nothing can excuse such cruel acts against a mother and two innocent children in their own home. We hope that international authorities will quickly cooperate to apprehend the perpetrator before he can escape. Once justice is served, he cannot hide anywhere or run 3 in any direction; he will not be able to escape this crime.