Detectives are investigating a suspected murder-suicide after a father and his six-year-old daughter were found dead in their home.
The bodies of tragic Hope Gordon, six, and her 36-year-old father Mark Gordon were found on Monday at a property in West Calder, West Lothian after emergency services broke into the home when concerns were raised that the girl did not attend school.
Police say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths and it is believed they suspect the father killed the schoolgirl before taking his own life.
Post mortems are to take place this week.
The home remained sealed off by police today, and at the scene cordon a lone bunch of pink flowers was laid with a card which read: ‘Fly high little angel.’
Hope’s school said she will be ‘hugely missed’ and called her a ‘bright, bubbly and affectionate girl who brought joy to everyone she met’.
Toronto Primary School Headteacher Fiona Linfoot said: ‘Hope was a much-loved member of the Toronto Primary family, and will be hugely missed by all her friends and school staff.
‘She was a bright, bubbly and affectionate girl who brought joy to everyone she met. We will really miss her infectious smile and kind heart.
Six-year-old schoolgirl Hope was called ‘bubbly and affectionate’ by her school in a tribute
Firefighters helped officers gain access to the house after the alarm was raised at around 4pm and found the bodies of Mark Gordon (pictured) and six-year-old Hope
‘We would ask everyone to respect the privacy of her family and the school community at this difficult time.
‘Help and support is available to any of our pupils, or staff, affected by this tragic news.’
Non-uniformed officers continued to make door-to-door inquires in the area today as the intensive police investigation continued.
Chief Superintendent Gregg Banks revealed a search was launched for the six-year-old on Monday after a concerned family member reported she had failed to turn up to the school.
Police officers and firefighters then attended the property in Harburn Drive and forced entry, only to find the bodies inside.
Mr Banks said: ‘The investigation is at a relatively early stage. We are examining the scene and that will take some time.
‘The family needs answers and the community, which is understandably shocked, needs answers.
‘At the moment we’re supporting the family with specialist officers.
‘To my understanding the family have been known to Police Scotland and social services for a number of years.’
It is understood Mr Gordon has more than one child, and in January 2017 lost a son aged just five months.
Hope Gordon was born in March 2018 to an address registered in Livingston, with her father’s occupation listed on her birth certificate as a chef.
And, at the time of the deaths of the father and daughter, Mr Gordon was a sous chef at the Mercure hotel in Livingston.
Mr Gordon is said to have split with Hope’s mother.
A police cordon at the scene on Harburn Drive, West Calder in West Lothian, Scotland, after the deaths of a 36-year-old man and a six-year-old girl
Police said the deaths are being treated as unexplained and post-mortem examinations will take place in due course
Police said there had been an ‘element of shared custody’ over the child between her mother and father, and that she had been staying with her father for a ‘period of time’ when the bodies were found.
Detective Chief Inspector Bob Williamson: ‘At this time we have no information to suggest anyone else is involved and our inquiries are continuing.’
Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team is involved with the probe into little Hope’s death and that of her father.
Mr Banks added: ‘It’s a really tragic set of circumstances and there is a real thirst for answers.
‘We’ll work as quickly as possible to get those answers.’
Students and staff at the primary school she attended are now being supported by the local authority.
Leader of West Lothian Council Lawrence Fitzpatrick added: ‘Understandably the local community will be in shock and this shock extends across West Lothian.
‘Our deepest sympathies are with the family of those affected by this tragic incident.
‘Our education officers and school staff are offering the local school community the appropriate support and reassurance at this very difficult time.’
A spokesperson for the Health and Social Care Partnership said: ‘We would offer our deepest condolences to the family. We cannot discuss any individual or individual family circumstance.
‘It would also not be appropriate to comment further whilst an active police investigation is underway.’
Officers found the bodies of Mark and Hope at an address in West Calder, Scotland, at around 4pm on Monday
Shortly before emergency services were alerted to the house, people were seen knocking on the door to no answer
The tragedy came just days after neighbours said they saw the girl playing in the garden. Shortly before emergency services were alerted, people were seen knocking on the door to no answer.
Isabel Girdwood, 91, said: ‘On Monday there were two girls that came to his door and they knocked on the door and they got no answer, and they walked up to the car park and there was a woman sitting in the car.’
The retired lollipop lady said the pair, who were in their 20s, did not appear concerned.
She said she did not see much activity at the property and only knew somebody was in when the ‘bathroom light was on’.
Mrs Girdwood said: ‘He never mixed with anybody, he never went near anybody and he never seemed to have any visitors.’
One neighbour, who did not want to be identified, told how she saw a girl playing outside at the weekend.
The neighbour said: ‘She was out the front of the house on Saturday, she was seen. It was very rare to see anybody, I actually thought the house was empty and didn’t think anyone was there any more.’
Locals said the man had not lived in the area for long.
Councillor Craig Meek said the community would be ‘shocked to the core’ after the incident (pictured: Police at the scene)
The force said a team of officers from Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team and the local division are involved in the investigation
One said: ‘I did not think he was there, I have not seen him in a long time. I thought the property had been lying empty, but obviously not.’
Those living in the area have been left shaken. One estate resident said: ‘It’s upsetting but nobody really knows what’s happened yet.
‘There’s a lot of speculation, and we have seen what has been on the news, but all we know is there has been a small child and man found. It’s tragic.’
One resident said: ‘It’s frightening. You don’t know what’s happened. I got the shock of my life when I came out. That’s the first time I knew of it.
‘It’s very, very confusing because you don’t know what’s happened.’
Councillor Craig Meek said yesterday the community would be ‘shocked to the core’.
He said: ‘It is important at a time like this that the community is given the time to understand what’s happened and also come together to support each other.’
Local MP Gregor Poynton said he was ‘sorry to learn about the tragic deaths’ and added that Police Scotland would have an ‘increased presence’ in the area.
The house in which the pair were found was close to a primary school, but yesterday a spokesperson for West Lothian Council said: ‘Other than its proximity to the reported incident, we have reassured parents and pupils that this incident has no connection to Parkhead Primary School.’
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