Stabbed to death in their beds: Father knifed his daughters and wife as they slept before hanging himself days later while their dead bodies lay in the house.

A father stabbed his wife and children to death in their beds and stayed in the family home with their bodies for days before hanging himself, it was revealed today. 

Jitendra Lad, 49, is believed to have murdered Daksha Lad, 44, and their daughters, Trisha, 19, and Nisha, 16, at their detached house in Clayton, Bradford, days after celebrating Diwali as a family.

The motive for the killings remains a mystery and MailOnline understands that police have not yet found a suicide note in the house. 

West Yorkshire Police believe Mr Lad, a 'respectable' council worker and school association chairman, stabbed his family to death as they slept over the weekend.

After several days in the family home alone he hanged himself in one of the empty four bedrooms on Monday.

Hours later a worried neighbour called the police because the Lads had not left the house since Friday, and officers broke in to find the dead bodies. 

Police said last night a post mortem examination performed on Mr confirmed he died from 'by hanging' and  'the examination suggested Mr Lad died on Monday'.

But the autopsies on his wife and daughters revealed their fatal stab wounds 'are thought to have been sustained at an earlier point during the weekend'. 

To friends and family the Lads were regarded as 'the nicest family in the world' and the father of the family was 'protective' of his 'very clever' daughters and he and his wife were inseparable.

One family member said: 'We had just had a great time of celebration. It had been Diwali and everyone had been happy. It is so sad and we just don't know why this happened or if something was wrong.'  

Friends and neighbours were unaware of any problems in the family and had heard no arguments.

Both parents had good jobs as clerical officers with the local council and were keen to climb the career ladder.

Trisha was in her second year at Leeds University studying for a degree in biochemistry and Nisha was at sixth form.

The University of Leeds confirmed Trisha was in the second year of a biochemistry degree.

A spokesman said: 'This is dreadful and shocking news and our thoughts are with Trisha's friends and loved ones.

'Staff are working with the University's counselling and chaplaincy services to help students who are affected by this tragedy and we will do all we can to support them.'

Melissa Taylor, president of the Faculty of Biological Sciences Society at the university, said on Twitter: 'Heartbreaking to hear about the death of Trisha Lad, such a lovely, well-liked person. Rest in Peace.'

Steph Mapplebeck said: 'Trisha Lad was one of the sweetest and kindest people I have met whilst studying at Leeds. What a heartbreaking loss. Rest in peace.' 

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