Fire death: Murder probe launched

Fire death: Murder probe launched

A murder hunt has got under way after a devoted mother of nine died saving her son from a house fire started by a firework pushed through her letterbox.

Mary Fox, 59, was trapped in her bedroom at her home in Bodmin, Cornwall, after reportedly pushing her 17-year-old son Raum to safety through an upstairs window.

Officers are investigating claims that Raum, who has learning difficulties, was being bullied at school and that the family had been targeted by youths who had been throwing fireworks in the street.

Police said they had launched a murder investigation after the remnants of a firework were found behind the front door of Mrs Fox's house in Carpenter Court.

On Saturday night, Mrs Fox's family paid tribute to their "loving and caring" mother who devoted her life to her children and "would give her last penny" to help people in need.

A team of officers conducted house-to-house enquiries on Saturday and collected the remains of fireworks found in the street for potential evidence.

After leaping from the three-storey house Raum ran to alert neighbours that his mother was still trapped inside. He was taken to Treliske Hospital where he was treated for smoke inhalation and he was being looked after on Saturday night by his eight brothers and sisters.

Firefighters arrived within minutes of a 999 call at around 7.15pm on Thursday. They found Mrs Fox dead in the same room from where her son escaped.

Speaking at a press conference at Bodmin police station on Saturday, Superintendent Martin Orpe warned the people responsible that police would find them, saying: "I am appealing to those people involved in this to do the decent thing and come forward to the police.

"I would ask them to come forward, and anyone who knows fact in relation to this incident - not rumour, because there is a lot of rumour going around Bodmin - to come forward."