Police name father who poisoned children at North Wales beauty spot

Jun 16 2008

Amy Philcox, 7, and her brother Owen, 3, who were found dead with their father Brian Philcox in a light blue Land Rover. Picture: North Wales Police/PA Wire _320

THE man who was found dead with his two children on Father’s Day was named today by police.

Karate expert Brian Philcox, 52, is thought to have driven Amy, seven, and three-year-old Owen to a remote spot in North Wales before gassing them.

Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jones of North Wales police said all three had died from carbon monoxide poisoning due to inhaling car exhaust fumes.

Mr Jones appealed to anyone who saw Mr Philcox's Land Rover Freelander between 7pm on Friday evening and just before 3pm yesterday to contact North Wales Police.

He said: "The investigation into the incident continues.

"Detectives are trying to establish a timeline of events which occurred before the three were found in the light blue Land Rover on an unclassified road just off the A470 between Maenan and Tal-y-Cafn shortly before 3pm yesterday, Sunday, June 15."

The 4x4 Land Rover Freelander's registration number is W537 MNC.

Mr Jones also confirmed that a bomb disposal unit was called to check out the vehicle after Cheshire Police officers found a "device" at Mr Philcox's home address in the Windmill Hill area of Cheshire.

Four teddy bears along with bouquets of flowers were tied to the railings outside Mr Philcox's home today.

The single-storey, bungalow-type terrace is on an estate in the Windmill Hill area of Runcorn in Cheshire.
Many neighbours were too distressed to speak today about the events of the weekend.

Shocked locals hugged each other as they talked on doorsteps in the sunshine, watching as police forensics teams wearing blue gloves came in and out of the house.

A lone police officer stood guard outside, but other police were seen close to another house, believed to be relatives of the victims.

Superintendent Jed Manley, of Cheshire Police, who was also at today's press conference at North Wales Police divisional headquarters in St Asaph, said: "During the course of inquiries to trace Mr Philcox and his children, a Cheshire Constabulary officer searched his home address.

"While searching that address he came across what he believed to be an improvised explosive device. Because of that, the area was evacuated and as many as 40 people were evacuated from the local area.

"The bomb disposal team was brought in to examine the device. They did so and declared it to be a hoax device.
"It was made to give the appearance of being an explosive device. It has wires. It had other issues that the officer believed, quite rightly, that caution was needed and it looked like an improvised explosive device."

Mr Manley said Mr Philcox also had other children with other partners.

He said: "The only two children he had with his current wife were the children he had with him when his body was found. He does have children from previous relationships and a wider family."

Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jones, of North Wales Police, said all three bodies were found in the rear of the vehicle and a pipe was linked from the exhaust into the car through the back window.

When asked if there were letters or if Mr Philcox had told anyone what he intended to do, Mr Jones said: "There is nothing to suggest that he would have done anything to harm the children.

"We know that Mr Philcox collected the children from his ex-partner's address and at some point visited the Llangollen Railway."

Mr Jones said it was not known whether the children had taken a ride on a train during their visit to Llangollen Railway, near Llangollen in North Wales, on Saturday.

He also said there were no injuries to the children when their bodies were found.

Mr Jones also said the mother of the children, whom he did not name, lived "relatively nearby" to Mr Philcox's house.

Speaking of how she was coping, Mr Jones said: "Obviously, as the mother of the children who were killed, she is devastated, she has suffered this double loss. She is being looked after by family liaison officers who are giving her comfort and support at this time, and she does have a good network of family and friends around her but obviously this is a tragic loss that she's suffered."

Mr Jones said there were no letters written by Mr Philcox found in the Land Rover.