This is South Devon --POLICE trying to piece together the final — and missing — 24 hours of tragic young mum Kat Hooper today released the last known CCTV footage of her.
It has now been revealed by detectives investigating the suspected double murder and suicide that the Paignton mum left her home in Dukes Close THE DAY BEFORE she leapt to her death with her five-year-old son, Joshua, from the top of Haytor Rock in front of holidaymakers at 11.50am last Friday.
The detective leading the investigation today made a fresh appeal for witnesses. He also revelaed that police were still seeking Kat Hooper's mobile phone. DS Paul Burgen said: "We are keen to ascertain Katherine and Josh's movements in the 24 hour period prior to their deaths.
"We are appealing for any witnesses who may have seen or spoken to them. They may have details about her demeanour and state of mind." He said that detectives now believe she stopped at the Spar store in King's Ash Road in Paignton on Thursday, July 11 while travelling to Haytor by taxi. DS Burgen said the last confirmed sighting of Katherine was just after midday on the same day at the upper car park on Haytor.
The tragedy has devastated family and friends of 'devoted' mum Kat. Her family have released video footage of her and the children (pictured) as a tribute.
Police say they are not looking for any other people in relation to the deaths.
Detectives believe 24-year-old Kat's two-year-old son, Sam, was already dead when she took a taxi from Paignton to the Dartmoor beauty spot she loved.
She took a child car seat in the black private hire taxi and was seen leaving the upper car park at Haytor by an ice cream salesman, wearing heels and still carrying the car seat, at about midday on the Thursday. Twenty-four hours later she leapt to her death with her son on her back.
Police have issued a final CCTV image showing Kat wearing the clothes she died in which was taken outside shops in Kings Ash Road on Thursday morning.
Police believe she and Josh may have slept out in the open on the warm summer's night before they died.
The blue and grey car seat was found in a quarry behind Haytor, and they may have slept there.
Det Sgt Andy James, the senior investigating officer in the case, said: "We still have this gap which we are keen to fill, not only for the coroner, but for the family, of the last 24 hours of Josh and Kat's lives.
"We are keen to leave no questions unanswered, but it may be that some questions will never be answered."
He revealed: "She took a cab from Paignton on Thursday morning arriving at the upper car park at around midday.
"We believe she then walked off with Joshua in the direction of Haytor.
"We believe that Samuel was already dead at the house in Paignton. She was in a very, very dark place as you can imagine, going up to Haytor with the other boy.
"The post-mortem on Samuel was conducted yesterday. That is inconclusive at the moment.
"The 24-hour period we are interested in starts when Josh and Kat left the home address.
"They were wearing the clothing they wore when they died.
"She was wearing a blue and white hooped jumper, which was unusual given the warm temperature.
"One theory is that they slept on the moor. We have made extensive inquiries at B&Bs, with taxis and bus services.
"At this point we cannot identify any persons who have taken them from Haytor. They may have slept the night at Haytor or in the disused quarry.
"They may have camped out, even though they didn't take sleeping bags. Kat only had a small handbag and we have that.
"They were seen by a number of tourists on the rocks just prior to their fall.
"Their behaviour raised some concerns. Clearly she was very, very distressed and disturbed and people described her as looking them very sternly in the eyes when they made eye contact."
DS James said that everybody he had spoken to who knew Kat described her in complimentary ways. He said: "She was clearly well-loved by everybody who knew her."
Detectives, local officers and police community support officers will be at Haytor on Thursday and Friday morning to jog the memories of locals and visitors who may have seen Kat and Joshua.
They will be handing out appeal flyers in the hope of finding anyone who may have been visiting the moor over those two days.
"We would urge anyone who may have seen Katherine and Joshua to contact police with any information, however small, as this may be vital to the inquiry," said Det Sgt James.
Dark-haired Joshua was wearing a blue top, white or light-coloured shorts and brown ankle boots.
Anyone who saw them is asked to contact detectives by telephoning police on 101, quoting reference 734 of 12/07/13.
An inquest into the three deaths was opened yesterday.
South Devon coroner Ian Arrow said the medical cause of all three deaths had 'yet to be ascertained pending results from histology and toxicology'.
Mr Arrow said Kat's body was identified by her father, Mr Peter Hooper, a self-employed labourer and builder from Widecombe-in-the-Moor.
Mr Hooper also identified the bodies of his two grandsons.
The two boys were born in Torquay.
A double murder investigation has been launched into the deaths of the two boys. Reported by This is 3 days ago.