Tragic Arson Attack in St Helens Claims Lives of Elderly Couple

The devastating consequences of an arson attack in St Helens have been laid bare as the first photographs of the couple killed in the blaze have been released by their family. Emergency services were called to the scene on Tuesday morning, where a house fire was reported, and despite the efforts of firefighters, the couple, Peter Eric Greener, 77, and Sheila Jackson, 83, were pulled out of the burning home and taken to hospital, where they tragically passed away.

Key Takeaways:

• The couple, who had been together for 30 years, were described by neighbors as "good people" and "lovely couple".
• The motive behind the attack is yet to be established, with police treating their deaths as murder and appealing for information.
• Detectives believe an accelerant was used to start the blaze, and they are working to establish what it was and why it was used.
• The investigation is a joint effort between Merseyside Police and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, with 48 hours in and pursuing several lines of inquiry.
• The couple had been living in the house for 15 years, and their neighbors described them as always being really nice and friendly.

Statistics:

• 77 years old: the age of Peter Eric Greener, one of the victims.
• 83 years old: the age of Sheila Jackson, the other victim.
• 30 years: the length of time the couple had been together.
• 15 years: the amount of time the couple had been living in their house.
• 48 hours: the time frame in which the police are pursuing several lines of inquiry.

Sources:

• Merseyside Police's HQ
• Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service
• Gavin Thelwell, a neighbor who spoke to the ECHO from the scene of the blaze
• Detective Superintendent Rachel Wilson
• Detective Chief Inspector Steve McGrath