THE deaths of Dr Saman Mir Sacharvi and her daughter Vian Mangrio have shocked thousands across Lancashire and the rest of the country.

The mother and daughter were found dead in their Reedley home on Thursday October 1 and police have now launched a murder investigation.

The body of the girl has yet to formally identified but is strongly believed by police to be Dr Sacharvi’s daughter, 14-year-old Vian, who was a pupil at Marsden Heights School in Nelson.

A 51-year-old man arrested on suspicion on two counts of murder, two of rape and one of arson with intent to endanger life and remains in police custody for questioning.

Here is how the tragedy has unfolded so far:

THURSDAY 1 OCTOBER

Lancashire Police received a welfare call at 8.45am to a home on Colne Road in Reedley where officers found two bodies in the property.

The house showed evidence of damage by fire but at this time it was not known what the victims' causes of death were.

A CSI team arrived and detectives began their investigation.

Lancashire Telegraph:

FRIDAY 2 OCTOBER

One of the victims was identified as Dr Saman Mir Sacharvi, aged 49. The other victim is believed to be that of Vian Mangrio, Dr Sacharvi's daughter.

> Read More: Mum and teenage daughter found dead at Reedley house named by police​

Police began to appeal for information about their death.

SATURDAY 3 OCTOBER

A murder investigation was launched into the deaths in Reedley.

A post mortem investigation revealed that Dr Sacharvi died as a result of pressure to the neck and had also been victim of an assault. Miss Mangrio's post-mortem examination result has not yet been revealed but it was confirmed she was found badly burnt inside the address.

Speaking outside the home, Detective Supt John Holmes, Head of Major Crimes, said: "This is a harrowing set of circumstances and my condolences go out to the family of Dr Sacharvi and Vian.

"We are also aware of the upset and distress this will cause in the community. As a result we have released extra patrols into the area who are providing reassurance and those officers are available for members of the public to speak to if they wish.

"No stone will be left unturned in order to find out exactly what has happened and to bring the offenders to justice."

Flowers and balloons have been left outside the property as a tribute to the family.

Lancashire Telegraph:

SUNDAY 4 OCTOBER

Tributes were paid to Dr Saman Mir Sacharvi, who worked for the South Lancashire and Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust.

She was described as an ‘amazing doctor’ who will be ‘sadly missed and fondly remembered’.

In a social media post a spokesman for the South Lancashire and Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust said: “Our thoughts are with Dr Sacharvi’s family and friends at this terribly sad time.

“She was a well-loved and well-liked colleague here at the Trust, described as “brilliant” and a “joy to work with”. Please follow our colleagues at Lancashire Police who are investigating this devastating incident and if you have any information, come forward and let them know.”

Two men, aged 51 and 56, from Burnley, were detained shortly after 7pm on Sunday (October 4).

They were both arrested on suspicion of two counts of murder, two of rape and one of arson with intent to endanger life.

MONDAY 5 OCTOBER

Several bunches of flowers alongside tributes and a balloon have since been left outside their home, with one tribute, addressed to Vian, reading: “You didn’t deserve this. You will always be in my heart. You are gone too soon, and I can’t believe you’re gone. Everyone is thinking about you, we will never forget you.

“Thank you for everything you have done for me.”

Another unsigned message said: “May some good love come out of this horrendous crime. May people learn tolerance.

“My thoughts and prayers are with you both. Stupid, stupid. So sad, bad, wrong.”

Paying tribute to her, perinatal lead consultant Gill Strachan said: “Dr Sacharvi fitted in well with the team.

“She was approachable, diligent and had formed good working relationships with the team.

“She was empathic and well-liked by the women and families that she worked with.

“Her colleagues described her as very kind, brilliant and a joy to work with.

“During lockdown when Covid-19 restrictions were in place, she went out of her way to support the care of women, personally delivering prescriptions to women isolating at home.

Alyson Littlewood, head at Marsden Heights when Vian attended school said: “We are shocked and heartbroken by the tragic deaths of Vian and her mother and our whole school is mourning the loss of two much-loved members of our community.

“Vian was an outstanding student. She had that wonderful mix of academic ability coupled with an enthusiasm for everything else that school can offer.

> Read More: Headteacher pays tribute to outstanding student Vian Mangrio

Following enquiries the 56-year-old man was released without charge however the 51-year-old man remains in police custody.

Det Supt Holmes said: “We are on with a number of lines of enquiry.

“This is a live investigation and we continue to ask anyone with any information to get in touch with us. Perhaps you have been in the Colne Road area recently and have seen something suspicious. Maybe you have CCTV or dashcam footage which could contain something useful. Or perhaps you think you know who is responsible. Whatever information you have, we would urge you to get in touch, even if you think what you know is insignificant.

“Finally our thoughts remains with Dr Sacharvi and Miss Mangrio’s family and friends at this awful time and we send them our deepest condolences. We have a team of detectives dedicated to the investigation and we will leave no stone unturned.”

TUESDAY 6 OCTOBER

Today (Tuesday, October 6) officers have been granted a Warrant of Further Detention which allows them to keep the arrested 51-year-old man in custody for questioning for an additional 36 hours.

Det Supt Holmes said: “Our thoughts remain with Saman and Vian’s family and we have specially-trained officers supporting them at this awful time.

“On Sunday we arrested two men and one has since been released. The second man remains in custody and today we have been granted more time to question him.

“We are continuing to ask anybody with information about this incident to get in touch with us. If you were in the area and saw something suspicion, think you have dashcam or CCTV from the area or have any other information, we would ask you to contact us straight away.”