The mother of a British man wanted in connection with two double murders in northern English villages appealed to him today to give himself up.
The tearful message was broadcast at a news conference by North Yorkshire police, who are hunting shaven-headed Mr Mark Hobson (34), suspected of killing twin sisters and an elderly couple in separate attacks 25 miles apart.
Police confirmed today that the two murder scenes are "positively linked" but said they have found nothing to connect the 27-year-old sisters with the pensioners.
Despite extensive media coverage of the case, hundreds of calls from the public and a nationwide search, police have admitted Hobson was no closer to being found.
"The best thing you can do is contact the police," Mrs Sandra Hobson, mother of the former binman, said in a taped message.
"If not the police, then a solicitor, or someone who can help you. . . . Please don't hurt anyone, there are people who can help you," she said.
The two sisters, Claire and Diane Sanderson, were found dead on Sunday morning in an apartment they shared with Mr Hobson in the northern village of Camblesforth.
Several hours later, James Britton (80) and his wife Joan (82) were found dead in the nearby village of Strensall.
Police said forensic tests showed that Claire Sanderson - who had not been seen since July 2nd - was killed several days before her sister Diane was murdered.
An autopsy showed Diane had been strangled and also had body injuries. The Britton couple were found to have been stabbed and beaten.