Rimvydas Liorancas, the man accused of murdering Birmingham couple Avtar and Carole Kolar in their home, was found dead in prison at the weekend, it has emerged.
Lithuanian Liorancas was found hanged on Saturday at Woodhill prison, in Milton Keynes, where he had been since being charged with the murders of Mr and Mrs Kolar.
Prison officers tried to resuscitate him before he was pronounced dead at 9.30am. An investigation has now been launched by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman.
West Midlands Police said the couple’s family had been informed of the death and were still being supported by detectives.
In a statement released through police, the Kolar family said: “We were made aware of the death of Liorancas by police on Saturday.
"We understand the investigation into our parents’ deaths will continue and the findings be presented to the coroner.
“We ask that we be left alone as we continue to grieve over the deaths of our mum and dad.”
Details of the death of Liorancas were withheld over the weekend while his family in Lithuania were informed.
A Prison Service spokesman said: “HMP Woodhill prisoner Rimvydas Liorancas was found hanging in his cell at 8.52am on Saturday January 28. Staff attempted resuscitation and paramedics attended but he was pronounced dead at 9.30am.
“As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will conduct an investigation.”
The death of 37-year-old Liorancas, formerly of Booth Street, Winson Green, came 12 days after he was arrested over the double murder of Mr and Mrs Kolar at their home in Handsworth Wood.
The bodies of Avtar, 62, and his wife of 40 years, Carole, 58, were discovered inside their home on Friary Road by their detective son Jason at 8am on January 11, a serving West Midlands Police officer following concerns that they could not be contacted.
Forensic post-mortem examinations confirmed they both died after being repeatedly struck over the head with a blunt instrument.
Detectives later revealed that the murder weapon was a lump hammer that had been recovered at the scene.
West Midlands Police said the investigation into the murders would continue in order for the completed findings to presented to the coroner at an inquest into the tragedy.
Two of the couple’s children described the heartache of the deaths of their parents when they appeared at a press conference the day after the bodies were discovered.
Michelle Kirwan, 39, wept inconsolably as she said the light had been “switched out” in their lives and their hearts were “broken forever”.