Dad ‘killed daughter, 6, before taking his own life’ in suspected murder-suicide
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DETECTIVES have launched a probe after a dad reportedly killed his young daughter before taking his own life. The bodies of Mark Gordon, 36, and Hope, six, were found on Monday inside a family home in West Calder. It's understood the double death tragedy is now being treated as a suspected murder-suicide as cops remain on the scene.
![[Photo of Hope Gordon.]](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/family-handout-pa-wire-note-965811665_e841c7.jpg?strip=all&w=720)
The tragic schoolgirl was yesterday described by her teachers as "bright, bubbly and affectionate". Detectives investigating the death revealed that officers had previous "contact" with the family. Staff at Toronto Primary in Livingston raised the alarm after the child, who split her time between both parents, failed to show up to class on Monday morning.
![[Close-up photo of Mark Gordon.]](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/77128261-pix-mark-gordon-found-965768888.jpg?strip=all&w=541)
A worried relative went to chef Mark's home in West Calder, West Lothian, but did not get an answer. They contacted police, who made the horrific discovery after fire crews forced entry at around 4pm. Fiona Linfoot, headteacher at Hope's school, said: "Hope was a much-loved member of the Toronto Primary family and will be hugely missed by all her friends and staff. She was a bright, bubbly and affectionate girl who brought joy to everyone she met.
![[Police officers and forensic investigators at a crime scene.]](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/21-01-25-west-calder-965581458_d5b44a.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
"We will really miss her infectious smile and kind heart.". Detectives remained on the scene last night but said there was "nothing to suggest" anyone else was involved in the tragedy. Postmortems are still to take place. Chief Superintendent Gregg Banks told how there had been an "element of shared custody" for Hope, who had been staying with her father for "a period of time".
![[Crime scene at a house with police and forensic tent.]](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/21-01-news-pic-cover-965558764_05c52a.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
