GP is found dead in her home ‘while hosting a children’s sleepover’ near Sandringham estate: Man is arrested over ‘murder’

By ANDREW LEVY, REPORTER 18:57 05 Oct 2026, updated 19:31 05 Oct 2026

A GP is believed to have been murdered in her home on the outskirts of the King’s Sandringham estate while holding a children’s sleepover.

Hannah Cain, who was in her 40s, was found dead at her house in Dersingham, Norfolk, during the early hours of Sunday.

A man, also in his 40s, was arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody.

The surgery in nearby Grimston where Ms Cain worked was closed today. Colleagues at Grimston Medical Centre said it was due to ‘extremely difficult circumstances affecting our practice team’.

Known professionally as Dr Hannah Terry, she also worked for the cosmetic treatments business Norfolk Sky Aesthetics.

Residents living near Dr Terry’s large, detached £800,000 house said she had young children who had invited friends over.

The other children are said to have been returned to their families after police were called to the property, which is about a mile from Sandringham House, at 2.20am on Sunday.

A cordon was put around the house and an access road remained closed today.

Police were called to the mother-of-three’s house by the ambulance service. Dr Cain bought her home jointly with her husband, Mark Cain, in March 2021 for £760,000.

Detectives have yet to announce the results of a post-mortem examination by a Home Office pathologist which was due to be carried out today to confirm how she died.

Several bouquets of flowers were left at the scene today. Police cars and forensics officers were also seen outside, as well as around six special operations officers who arrived in a van and parked in a neighbour’s drive.

They were seen putting on blue gloves before entering the property.

Villagers described the area as a normally peaceful spot and said they had been shocked by the tragedy.

One, who described how Dr Terry had lived in the area for around ten years, said: ‘She was just a lovely human being with three gorgeous young children.

‘Something’s obviously gone very badly wrong. I’m just out of words, we all are.’

A neighbour in his 90s added: ‘I didn’t know anything until the police came.

‘I very rarely saw them. The children were lovely, two boys and a younger girl.

‘They used to kick their football into my garden and I’d throw it back to them, or they’d come and ask me if they could come in and look for it.’

‘You read about things like this happening in other places,’ another neighbour said. ‘But nothing like it ever happens this close to home.’

Another man who has lived in the area for half a century said there was little crime there.

‘Dersingham might not have a centre but it’s got a heart,’ he said.

Another resident said: ‘It’s the sort of place where if you forget to lock your car and leave it out all night nothing will happen to it.’

Police have been given an additional 12 hours to continue questioning the suspect.

A surgery spokesman said on social media: ‘We are sorry to let patients know that Grimston Medical Centre, including the dispensary, is temporarily closed due to extremely difficult circumstances affecting our practice team.

‘We apologise for the disruption and appreciate your patience and understanding at what is a very difficult time for our colleagues.’

Detective Inspector Alix Wright, of Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team, said: ‘We are in the very early stages of this investigation working to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the woman’s death.

‘I’d ask anyone who believes they may have information that could help our investigation to please share this with us.’

Dr Terry started working at Grimston Medical Centre last year after leaving the doctor’s practice in nearby Heacham last June.

A statement on the Heacham Group Practice website said at the time that she was leaving ‘to allow her to spend more time with her young family’.

It added: ‘We are all very sad to see her leave and are very grateful for all her hard work, support and advice over the last nine years. We wish her all the very best for the future.’

An earlier Norfolk Police statement said: ‘Officers were called to a house in Fern Hill, Dersingham, shortly after 2.20am on Sunday, 4 October, by the ambulance service.

‘Sadly, a woman aged in her 40s was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after police arrived.

‘A man aged in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of murder and taken to King’s Lynn Police Investigation Centre for questioning. He remains in custody.

‘Detectives from the Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team have launched a murder investigation.’

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