Sudden death of 'nice lad' on Christmas Day and woman's murder arrest shocks quiet Staffordshire village

On Boxing Day morning a house was cordoned off on Elm Road in Norton Canes and police remained on the scene, the day after a man in his 30s was found in cardiac arrest at the house at 3.25am on Christmas Day.

Despite the best efforts of emergency services staff, the man was pronounced dead at the scene, and a 33-year-old woman from Cannock was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder.

In the cold and misty early morning of Boxing Day, police tape could be seen across the front of a house in Elm Road, with two police cars sitting in the street outside and several others coming and going through the morning.

Among residents living on the same street, there was a feeling of shock at what had happened and at the loss of a man's life.

One resident said she didn't know the man who had died but had seen him in passing.

She said: "We're all a bit shocked, to be honest, because it's not something you expect to happen on your own doorstep.

"I didn't know him too well, but I would see him in passing and we'd say hello and he and his family seemed like fairly normal and nice people.

"It's not a tight community around here and a lot of people keep themselves to themselves, but there is a feeling of shock from the people I've spoken to."

One woman, who asked not to be named, said she remembered the man through her own children.

She said: "I've been here for six years and I've always found them to be a very quiet family who keep themselves to themselves, although I do know that the parents are regulars in one of the pubs around here.

"I just can't believe what has happened as it's just a shock and he seemed like a nice lad and had been around my own kids in the past as well."

One local woman, who didn't want to be named, said the man's parents were away.

She said: "I know that the parents are on holiday at the moment and I'm sure they're trying to get back as quick as they can.

"You couldn't think of anything worse to have on Christmas Day and I'm just shocked at what has happened.

"It's very unsettling having police cars here as it is an area where nothing like this ever happens and it's just really awful."

One male resident, who didn't want to be named, said he'd been getting more and more information about the incident through the day.

He said: "I didn't hear what happened and the first I knew of it was waking up yesterday morning and seeing a bunch of police cars outside, which I thought was because of the house being burgled due to the couple being away.

"It was only during the day that I saw CID and forensic vans that I began to realise it was something much worse and I found out what had happened on one of the local Facebook groups.

"I'm just shocked and very saddened about it as it's right on your doorstep, but it's kind of the way of the world right now."

A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: "A woman has been arrested after we launched an investigation into the death of a man at a house in Norton Canes.

"We were called to a report of a man in his 30s in cardiac arrest on Elm Road, Norton Canes at around 3.25am this morning (December 25). 

"Sadly, despite the best efforts of emergency services at the scene, he passed away a short while later.

"The man’s next of kin have been informed and are now being supported by specially-trained officers.

"A 33-year-old woman from Cannock has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is in custody.

"A scene remains at the address whilst the investigation continues and is expected to remain for a number of days. 

"To help establish the cause of death, a postmortem is scheduled to take place on Boxing Day morning.

"Local residents will see an increased presence of neighbourhood officers in the area as they provide reassurance and help to gather evidence.

"If anyone witnessed any suspicious behaviour or has any knowledge about the incident, you can contact us using our Major Incident Public Portal - https://mipp.police.uk/operation/STAFFS24L22-PO1. 

"Alternatively, for guaranteed anonymity, contact Crimestoppers."