A Scot suspected of killing his girlfriend and her 15-year-old daughter before taking his own life was an evangelical Christian busker who wrote his own faith songs.
Russell Steele, 38, was found dead in an apartment in Newry, Northern Ireland, on Thursday alongside Colombian girlfriend Giselle Marimon-Herrera, 37, and her daughter Allison.
Yesterday, a post-mortem examination confirmed Allison had been strangled and while the results for Giselle were not conclusive, it was thought she was killed in the same way.
The Police Service Northern Ireland confirmed Steele, who was originally from Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, had taken his own life as they launched a murder investigation.
Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy said there was no evidence to suggest anyone else was involved.
DS Murphy said domestic abuse was one line of inquiry.
Steele and Giselle are thought to have been together for the last nine months but she was planing to leave him and return home.
Her father Fabian Marimon revealed that his daughter had told Steele she was leaving him to return to her native Colombia.
It is not known when Steele, believed to be a construction worker, had moved to Northern Ireland but in his hometown he was known to worshippers in the evangelical community.
Steele also busked in Kilmarnock and can be found online on YouTube performing religious songs he wrote. The videos were filmed at the Central Evangelical Church. A churchgoer, who last saw him more than four years ago, said: “He wasn’t a member of any church as far as I am aware but he floated around a few different churches in the town.
“He is a singer-songwriter. He wrote some songs himself.
“I believe he had addiction issues in the past but that was a long time ago.”
Steele’s brother Derek paid tribute on Facebook. He said: “My absolute world has came crashing down finding out that my big brother Russell has died.
“Words cannot describe how I am feeling right now and the family of course – it doesn’t feel real.
“I feel like I am in a nightmare and I need to wake up. Russell, I love you, always have and always looked up to you. You were an inspiration to me, honestly bro. I’ll see you again one day. Love you always. The flame still burns.”
Ms Marimon-Herrera moved to Northern Ireland four years ago and her daughter Allison, who was born in Spain, joined her in 2017. Allison was a pupil at Newry High where teachers and pupils were trying to come to terms with her killing.
Police trying to establish a timeline to their deaths believe the mother and daughter were alive on Sunday.
More than £3,000 has been raised on GoFundMe to help Mr Marimon and a relative to travel to Northern Ireland and pay for funeral costs.
The PSNI said: “Following post mortems detectives can confirm that the cause of 15-year-old Allison Marimon-Herrera’s death was strangulation. Results are not definitive for Giselle, 37. However, at this stage detectives believe there is a strong possibility she too was strangled.”
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