A mother is enduring an “unspeakable tragedy” after her three young sons were killed by their father, who then took his own life in what police are treating as a “triple-murder-suicide.” The bodies of Piotr Swiderski, 31, and his children, Dominik, three, and two-year-old twins, Nikodem and Kacper, were discovered at their home in Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey, over the weekend.
Angelika Swiderska, Piotr’s wife and mother to the boys, has been left devastated and is being comforted by her brother and sister-in-law. Friends of the family have described the situation as an “unspeakable tragedy,” while neighbours have revealed that Angelika had shared concerns about her husband’s mental health, describing him as “depressed.
Angelika, who runs a local cake business, had recently returned from a trip to Poland to visit family and friends. Upon her return, she told neighbours about her husband’s ongoing battle with depression.
Police have confirmed they had previous contact with the family in August 2023 and have referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for review.
In a heartfelt statement issued through Surrey Police, Angelika said: “Piotr was an amazing husband and father to Kacper, Nikodem, and Dominik. He loved us with all his heart and would have done anything for us. The children doted on their daddy. Our boys were happy, active children, full of life and happiness. They were always smiling, and even when I looked sad, they would say, ‘Mummy, smile like us.'”
She continued, “We are grieving for them all and would like to ask for privacy as we try to understand why this tragedy happened. I would like to say a huge thank you to all our community for the messages of condolence, flowers, cards, and teddy bears.”
The exact circumstances surrounding the deaths remain under investigation, with post-mortem examinations scheduled. Police have confirmed there was no third-party involvement, but the cause of death has not yet been revealed.
Neighbours have described hearing “loud screams” around 1 p.m. on Saturday, shortly before emergency services arrived at the family’s home on Bremer Road. Tributes, including flowers, sunflowers, candles, and cuddly toys, have since been left outside the property in memory of the children. One tribute read: “We have no words, but our thoughts and love are with you at this extremely hard time.
Piotr had worked for his brother-in-law’s mobile tyre replacement business in Slough but left his job several months ago. Angelika and Piotr were married in 2019, with the family having moved into their home in Staines within the past year. The boys attended a nearby Catholic school, and Angelika’s cake business, Panda Sweet Corner, was well-known in the local community for its intricate creations for birthdays and special occasions.
Neighbours have described the family as appearing “happy,” often hearing the sound of children’s laughter and play from their garden. One local resident shared, “Recently, there were BBQs and lots of adult laughter… although their garden backs onto mine, I didn’t know them well. I would hear the children laughing and playing.”
DCI Gareth Hicks, who is leading the investigation, said, “This is a truly tragic incident, and a thorough investigation is underway to establish exactly what happened. We would like to thank the local community for their support and understanding while we conduct our enquiries.
The investigation is ongoing as the community comes to terms with the heartbreaking loss.
