A man wanted over the suspicious death of a mother of four has been arrested as police confirmed they are treating the incident as murder.
Kent police said they made “extensive searches” to locate the 54-year-old man after they discovered the body of Caroline Andrews, 52, at a property in The Street in Benenden on Thursday.
A postmortem took place on Friday and the death is being treated as a murder inquiry. The man was located in the London area on Friday afternoon and taken to hospital for treatment to injuries.
Neighbour Derek Catlin said the property in Benenden was the home of Caroline and Stuart Andrews, who lived in a bungalow called Greenacres with their four children aged from around early to late teens, and their two dogs.
Catlin described the family as “normal, very pleasant people”. He said: “I went out at about 4pm to the fish shop up the road, I came back but all was quiet, then the police arrived at about 4.30pm.
“All I saw was an accumulation of police vehicles, probably three police cars and later a detective interviewed my wife and I. I have been here for three years. We knew them as neighbours but I feel shock really, because there was nothing to make us think there was anything peculiar.”
He believed Mr Andrews was involved in the agricultural industry and that Mrs Andrews taught at one of the local schools.
“They were very normal, very pleasant people. This makes us all feel very odd. The police say there is nothing to worry about,” he said. “It’s an extraordinary thing to happen on your doorstep.”
Another local, Karen Callaghan, said: “It’s very sad for the village. Everyone knows everyone round here. The locals have been here a long time.”
A police cordon was in place outside the property, which is on a private estate opposite the village green. The house near the exclusive Benenden School and off the village’s main street.
Mrs Andrews was a “well-respected” supply teacher at Benenden C of E Primary School, based a short distance from her home.
Headteacher Gill Knox said: “The tragic death of Caroline Andrews has left the staff at Benenden C of E School shocked and saddened.
“Caroline and her family live in the village and are well known at the school. Caroline has been a loved and well-respected supply teacher for a number of years who has enriched the lives of the many children she taught.
“At the present time we cannot comment on what has happened but our thoughts and prayers are with her family and all who knew her and will miss her.”