After his wife’s body was found in a suitcase, a husband was arrested and charged with her murder.
Dawn Walker, 52 years old, was found dead in her home, just four days after the wedding with Thomas Nutt.
Police arrested him immediately after the chilling discovery made on Sunday. They also stated that they were not looking for any other suspects in the murder of Lightcliffe, Halifax.
Yesterday, officers continued to stand guard outside the couple’s red-brick semi and a cordon was placed around the alleyways leading to playing fields about 200 yards away – where her body was discovered by an unknown member of the public.
Dawn Walker, 52, and Thomas Nutt (45), were married in Halifax at a registry office last Wednesday
Dawn Walker, a school worker, was engaged to Thomas Nutt in January 2020.
Miss Walker, pictured with Nutt, worked at a local secondary school and was a grandmother
A local man, who was a guest at the couple’s wedding, said: ‘Somebody has found the suitcase in bushes in the field and opened it to find her inside.’
Miss Walker was a teacher at a local secondary school. She also had three adult daughters from previous relationships. In January 2020, she got engaged to Nutt.
Nutt, a scrap dealer, also has three children from an older relationship and moved in a year ago.
The couple got married at Halifax Register Office last Wednesday. A small number of their guests attended the Prince Albert pub for an informal reception.
West Yorkshire Police are not looking for any additional suspects in connection with the death of Miss Walker
Police arrested Nutt after Miss Walker was allegedly murdered by Nutt just days after their wedding
Friends and family are shocked at the passing of Miss Walker.
On social media, photos of the bride wearing a red dress and the groom wearing a grey suit were shared.
Another unnamed wedding guest said: ‘Dawn and Tommo were so in love. I can’t believe what has happened. It is just so terrible for something as tragic as this to happen so soon after the marriage.’
Last night police released a statement from Miss Walker’s family, reading: ‘We write this with a very heavy heart that yesterday we lost a loving daughter, mother, nanna, sister, auntie and friend.
‘In circumstances beyond our control, you were taken from us so suddenly.’
Miss Walker’s eldest child Codie-Marie Shaw, 29, wrote on Facebook: ‘I’m still trying to figure out if I’m dreaming or not. I’m hoping I wake up soon.
Dawn Walker had been married just a few days before her body was discovered
Friends described Miss Walker, a ‘generous’ woman, as ‘the most sound person you could ever meet’
‘You were taken away so cruelly and just dumped like you were worth nothing. Our family is broken and torn apart because of someone’s selfish and disgusting actions.’
Miss Walker’s sister Lisa commented: ‘My heart is truly broken.’ She also posted a photo of Miss Walker with the question: ‘My beautiful sister, why?’
Yesterday afternoon, relatives placed bouquets of flowers outside the home of Brighouse, West Yorkshire.
One tribute read: ‘Words can’t describe how much we will miss you. You were taken far too quickly and so cruelly. We love you so much.’
Officers were dispatched to Lightcliffe, near Halifax on Sunday to investigate reports of a dead body.
After the discovery, a police officer stood outside a property in Lightcliffe near Halifax.
The family then walked down the hill to the spot where she was found.
According to West Yorkshire Police, officers were dispatched at 4.38pm Sunday to investigate reports of a body found in Lightcliffe’s Aysgarth Avenue.
Last night, Nutt was charged with murder.
Detectives stated that the murder was believed to have occurred between last Sunday and Wednesday.
Nutt has been placed in custody and is due to appear before the Bradford Magistrates Court.