Jed Allen Didcot murders: Police search is on for Wolverine fanatic

The manhunt for 21-year-old Jed Allen wanted in connection with the killings in Oxfordshire has continued today, with armed police sealing off an Oxford city centre park

Armed police were searching more than 70 acres of parkland yesterday for a Wolverine fanatic whose family was found stabbed to death in their home.

More than 100 officers joined the desperate hunt for Jed Allen, 21, in Oxford after mum Jan Jordon, 48, her partner Philip Howard, 44 and six-year-old daughter Derin were found dead at their home in nearby Didcot.
The city’s University Parks were sealed off in the search for the former university groundsman, whose fixation with knives and blades emerged in hundreds of online posts on social media sites.

Jed Allen is being sought by police after the killings

In one picture on Instagram the 6ft hulk glares menacingly into the camera while wielding a huge axe.
In another he shows off a large hunting-style knife with the caption “today’s purchases”.
Another picture of the same weapon has the caption: “You call that a knife?” – a reference to the film Crocodile Dundee.

Further posts reveal his obsession with the X-Men character Wolverine, who he imitates in one photo by posing with blades between his fingers in a makeshift version of the Marvel hero’s razor claws.
There are numerous other photos of the character, including one of a Wolverine 21st birthday cake.
His Instagram account is filled with hundreds of pictures, with many featuring his distinctive tattoos – a black spider on his right hand, a scorpion on his left, and a bear on his chest.
It also shows a keen interest in other comic book characters including the violent vigilante The Punisher, and the SpiderMan villain Venom.
Jed Allen Didcot murders: Live updates as police launch manhunt

Allen's mum Jan Jordon and 6-year-old daughter Derin were stabbed to death

The bodies of the three victims were removed from their home yesterday afternoon after they were found on Saturday night.
They had all suffered stab wounds but full post-mortems will be carried out later today.
Police yesterday released photos of the family, including one of little Derin dressed up as a Disney-style princess, taken last March.
Detective Superintendent Chris Ward, head of the Thames Valley Police Major Crime Unit, said yesterday: “We believe this was a domestic incident. It’s very important we locate him as quickly as we can.
“I do not believe there are any dangers to the wider community of Oxfordshire.

“However, given the nature of what we are dealing with, it’s important that we find him as quickly and as safely as possible.
“If you see Jed please do not approach him, instead call 999 immediately.”
Neighbours yesterday expressed their shock at the tragic deaths as flowers and teddy bears were laid outside the scene, a neat-looking red brick house.
A yellow teddy bear was also placed just inside the cordon around the house, 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.”
Neighbour Sheila Welch said: “They are new neighbours and had only been here a couple of months. I used to see them – a lovely mother and a little girl. They always looked so happy. All I can say is that I am very upset – it is all very traumatic.”
Other former neighbours in the quiet cul-de-sac in Didcot, where the family lived until a couple of months ago, said they
had suddenly moved away without any notice.

One said the mother used to take the young girl cycling.
“She was always on her bike with her mum,” he added. “She was really nice, she used to smile and say ‘hello’ when she saw you in the street.”
Another former neighbour said the family had moved away suddenly.

A murder investigation has been launched after a man, woman and girl were found dead at a house in Didcot, Oxfordshire. Pictured - Victim Philip Howard — Hunt: Philip Howard was one of the three stabbing victims

He added: “One day they were gone. We did not see any removal van until the new neighbours moved in.”
In Oxford there was frenzied activity around the north-east end of the University Parks grounds, near the River Cherwell. Passers-by and visitors flocking to the historic city for the Bank Holiday weekend were told by police and Oxford University security officers that the parks would be shut all day.

Roland Rossler, 44, a tourist from Hamburg, Germany, said: “I just came down to University Parks this morning and I was told they are shut.
“I heard there is a murder and now police are looking for someone. It’s very worrying.”
Thames Valley Police spokeswoman Connie Primmer confirmed that postmortem examinations were expected to take place later today.