A married couple have been found dead in a suspected suicide pact.

The 27-year-old woman and 44-year-old man were found dead after being discovered in a house they had only recently moved into.

Police were called to the scene after being alerted by someone who knew the couple.

When officers entered the home they discovered their bodies.

It is not clear exactly how the pair died but there is no indication that anyone else was involved.

Today (Monday, November 12) Sussex Police identified the couple as Kris and Alphira Rivers.

A source said police had all but ruled out the possibility of an accidental overdose of drugs.

Detectives also do not believe that one of the couple killed their partner and then took their own |life.

Instead they think it is most likely that the pair killed themselves together at their home in Whyke Marsh, Chichester.

Post-mortems are due to take place on the couple over the next few days to try to determine how they died.

They will include toxicology tests to see if drugs or alcohol had been taken before their deaths and whether substances could have killed them.

Unknown reason

Last night (November 11) police were not able to give reasons why the couple might have killed themselves. They said this was still being investigated.

A spokesman said some relatives of the couple had been traced but that there were other family members who they were trying to trace to tell them.

One officer described the incident as “very sad”.

People living in the area said they were first alerted to the incident on Thursday lunchtime after hearing sirens in the area.

One woman said: “People were saying it was a double suicide but no one seems to know the couple.”

People living in Whyke Marsh said there were police at the scene from noon Thursday and throughout Friday.

One woman said: “There were police and ambulances arriving on Thursday and a police van here all day next day.”

Other people added their tributes to the couple online. One woman wrote: “RIP guys. Thoughts are with family and friends and neighbours.”

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “We can confirm that just before midday on Thursday officers were called to a house in Chichester and the bodies of a man and a woman were discovered.

"The deaths are currently being treated as unexplained but not suspicious and police are not looking for anyone else in connection with them.

Do you know the victims? To pay tribute to them email anna.roberts@theargus.co.uk.

If you are suffering and need support visit www.samaritans.org

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