A woman in her 40s, known professionally as Dr Hannah Terry, was found dead at her home in Dersingham, Norfolk, during the early hours of Sunday while hosting a children's sleepover. A man in his 40s has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Hannah Cain, a GP who worked near Grimston, was pronounced dead at the scene after police were called to a house on Fern Hill shortly after 2.20am on Sunday 4 October 2026. The surgery where she worked was closed on Monday, with managers citing “extremely difficult circumstances affecting our practice team”. She also worked at Norfolk Sky Aesthetics, a cosmetic treatment company.
Children taken to families after incident
Locals in Dersingham, around a mile from Sandringham House, said Hannah had young children and that other children had been staying at her home, a large detached property on Fern Hill. After police arrived, the other children were taken by officers to their families.
A cordon was put in place outside the property, and the access road remained closed on Monday with police cars still present. Special operations officers arrived in a van and parked in a neighbour's drive, and were seen pulling on blue gloves before entering the property. One well-wisher was seen laying flowers outside the house.
Neighbours describe 'lovely human being'
Residents described Dersingham as a quiet corner of Norfolk. One neighbour said Hannah had lived on Fern Hill, a tree-lined lane leading out of the village, for 10 years, and called her “a lovely human being with three gorgeous young children”. Another neighbour, a man in his 90s, said he rarely saw the family but remembered the children kicking a football into his garden.
Others said the village was friendly and safe, with one resident noting that “if you forget to lock your car and leave it out all night nothing will happen to it”.
Police granted extra time to question suspect
Norfolk Police confirmed that a man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of murder and taken to King’s Lynn Police Investigation Centre, where he remains. On Monday 5 October, officers applied to Great Yarmouth Magistrates’ Court for a warrant of further detention, allowing them an additional 32 hours to question the man.
A cordon remains in place at the address while police continue their enquiries.
