A 21-year-old man is being hunted by police after his six-year-old half-sister, his mother and her boyfriend were found stabbed to death at the family home.
The bodies of Philip Howard, 44, Janet Jordon, 48, and Derin Jordon, were discovered by police in the quiet town of Didcot, Oxfordshire, on Saturday night.
The first photographs of the victims emerged this evening as officers continued their search for Ms Jordon's son, Jed Allen, in connection with the triple murder.
Armed police hunting the 6ft-tall former groundsman, who has a distinctive spider tattoo on his left hand, have shut down Oxford University Parks, where he used to work, as part of their operation.
Meanwhile, shocking images posted on Allen's Instagram show him holding a knife, an axe and even posing with Wolverine-style blades between his fingers.
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Victims: Philip Howard, 44, right, Jan Jordon, left, and her six-year-old daughter, Derin, left, were stabbed to death in their Oxfordshire home. Police are hunting for 21-year-old Jed Allen in connection with their murders
Brandishing an axe, these pictures show the 'Wolverine fan' wanted for the triple murder of a family found dead in the home in Oxfordshire
The shocking images posted on Jed Allen's instagram show the 21-year-old holding a knife and even Wolverine-style blades
Detectives are looking for 6ft-tall Allen following the deaths of a man, 44, a woman, 48, and a six-year-old girl in the quiet town of Didcot. Pictured: A photo of a knife in what appears to be Jed Allen's hand on his Instagram
Manhunt: Armed officers in riot gear and dog squads were seen entering the 70-acre park this afternoon
Armed police erected a blue tent near the edge of park in Oxford as the search continued for Allen
The three bodies were discovered at a house in Vicarage Road, Didcot, Oxfordshire, after officers were called by a member of the public at 8.23pm yesterday.
The family had only been living at the property for two months, police said.
Post-mortem examinations will be carried out in the next 24 hours and are expected to confirm that the family died from stab wounds. Firearms are not thought to have been used.
Officers in riot gear and dog squads were seen entering 70 acres of university parkland, in Oxford city centre, earlier today but Allen has not yet been found.
Speaking at a press briefing on Saturday evening, Detective Supt Ward from Thames Valley Police's Major Crime Unit, described the incident as a 'tragic and sad event'.
He said: 'In liaising with the family we have decided to name the victims as Janet Jordan, 48, Philip Howard, 44, and Derin Jordan, six. The likely cause of each of their deaths is stab wounds.
Detectives are looking for 6ft-tall Jed Allen (pictured), 21, following the murders of a man, woman and six-year-old girl
Suspect: Allen (pictured), who was known to the family, has a distinctive spider tattoo on his left hand, police said
'We are still carrying out searches, some of those searches are with armed officers.
'There is no suggestion whatsoever that that person has weapon or a firearm, it is purely for the protection of the officers carrying out the searches. We are still looking for the suspect.'
Allen is described as a white male, 6ft tall, and of large build. The detective repeated his earlier plea for anyone who knows Mr Allen's whereabouts to come forward.
Mr Ward added: 'It is very important that we locate him as quickly as we can'.
The suspect, a former groundsman at Oxford University, is known to the police and from the area. Allen is also listed as an apprentice gardener on Didcot Town Council's website.
Tributes: Flowers and soft toys were left at the end of the road where the bodies were found in Didcot
Touching: A handwritten note left near the property where the bodies were discovered last night
Police officers carrying riot shields were this evening seen searching parkland as they continue their hunt
Pictures on his Instagram page show his apparent obsession with X-Men character Wolverine, known for having sharp blades on his hands.
Detective Superintendent Chris Ward this afternoon said the search for Allen has spread to the grounds of Oxford University.
He said: 'We are searching the grounds of Oxford University. There are a number of addresses we have already visited in Didcot, as well as an open search in Oxford.'
He added: 'Allen was a groundskeeper at Oxford University. There are a large number of officers who have been deployed to find the suspect.'
The public have been warned not to approach Allen and to immediately phone 999 if they see him.
Officers are also still on the scene in Didcot, the quiet Oxfordshire town which has been rocked by the murders. Today, floral tributes were left at the scene.
Police closed off Oxford University Parks as they narrowed down their hunt for Allen, who used to work as a groundsman
Thames Valley Police confirmed that the hunt had spread on to Oxford University (file picture) grounds
Police have shut down Oxford University Parks (shown above) in the hunt for the former groundsman, aged 21
Police officers have cordoned off Vicarage Road in Didcot, where the three bodies were found yesterday
Allen, who was known to the family, has a distinctive spider tattoo on his left hand, police (pictured at the scene in Didcot, Oxfordshire) said
A yellow teddy bear was also placed just inside the cordon, and a hand-written tribute was attached to a bunch of flowers.
Part of it read: 'To my best friend, my soul mate, Jan, Dezzy and my anorexic Phil and my gorgeous Jed.
'You are my family and always will be. I will miss you all each day... You have all left a massive void in my heart which will never be filled. I love you all so much, Jan, Phil and my Dezzy Doo.'
Sheila Welch, who lives on Vicarage Road, where the victims' bodies were found, said that although she did not know the family, they always looked 'happy'.
Ms Welch said: 'They are new neighbours and had only been here a couple of months - I don't know their names.
'I used to see them - a lovely mother and a little girl. They always looked so happy.'
She added: 'It was about half past eight last night, and then there were just sirens and police cars. All I can say is that I am very upset, it is all very traumatic.'
A former neighbour who lives near the family's old home, also in Didcot, said the mother used to take the young girl cycling.
He said: 'She was always on her bike with her mum. She was really nice, she used to smile and say "hello" when she saw you in the street.'
The three bodies were discovered at a house after officers were called by a member of the public at 8.23pm yesterday
The identity of the victims and the cause of their deaths have yet to be established, Thames Valley Police said
Detective Supt Ward said earlier today: 'Thames Valley Police is releasing an image of a man wanted in connection with three murders in Didcot yesterday.
'The image is of Jed Allen, aged 21. We believe that Jed Allen is related to the victims and that this was a domestic incident.
'Jed is white, about 6ft, of stocky build, and has a distinctive tattoo of a spider on his left hand. If you see Jed please do not approach him, instead call 999 immediately.
'It is very important we locate him as quickly as possible. I don't believe there is any danger to the wider community, however, given the nature of what we are dealing with it is important we find him.
'If anyone sees him they should not approach him, anyone with information about him I am genuinely appealing for them to contact us.
'We have officers actively looking for him at the moment, we know he has connections with Oxfordshire. We have carried out enquiries last night at addresses he might be.'
Police are asking for for witnesses who may have been in the area at the time to contact them.
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