Husband of dismembered wife may have fled country

11:26am Saturday 19th June 2004

The husband of a woman whose dismembered body was found in a freezer at her Kingston home has fled the country, detectives now believe.

Paul Dalton, 34, was last seen in Kingston on the same day his parents made the horrific discovery at the Woodside Road home on June 7.

They found the body of Korean-born Tae Hui Dalton (ne Kang), 36, wrapped in plastic bags in a chest freezer in the kitchen.

The suspect's estranged parents had gone to the house at 10pm because they had become concerned about Mr Dalton's welfare after he had contacted his mother the previous night.

Detective Chief Inspector Nick Ephgrave from the Met's Serious Crime Directorate, who is leading the investigation, said: "The suspect's father attended this address late on Tuesday evening trying to find Paul.

"They got no reply so gained entry and made a search of the house which appeared to be relatively clear of effects.

"Inside a chest freezer in the kitchen they found a series of packages.

"They looked and realised what they had discovered was a dismembered body. It clearly was a very shocking event."

Police are calling on anyone who has seen Paul Dalton to contact them. He is not considered to be dangerous to anyone that approaches him. His red VW Golf was found in Walton on Thames.

DCI Ephgrave said: "We are keen to trace Paul Dalton's whereabouts.

"Both we and Paul's parents are concerned for Paul's safety and welfare and we need to speak to him urgently to find out what happened in Woodside Road."

And speaking directly to Paul he said: "It is in your own best interests to come and speak to us.

"It is clear something terrible has happened here. If you come forward, we will treat you properly."

A post-mortem examination at Kingston Hospital started last Tuesday and has yet to establish the cause of death. The body has also yet to have been formally identified, because the state of the body means it would be too traumatic for a family member to perform.

Police also say that it is difficult to establish how long Tae Hui had been dead because of the frozen state of the body.

Tae Hui was last seen on Monday, May 31 and police are keen to speak to anyone who saw or spoke to on or around the Bank Holiday.

They also want help in tracing Paul's movements from that date.

DCI Ephgrave said: "We want to trace movements from May 31, particularly people living in this road over the weekend, or on June 2-3, if they saw him or her or heard or saw anything suspicious, then get in touch with me."

The couple, who have a daughter, had been married for seven years and ran Kingston English Language School on Castle Street.

It is rumoured that they had been suffering difficulties in their marriage and financial problems with their business.

DCI Ephgrave said that they had been helped by the Korean community in Kingston and New Malden and he would like to publicly thank them for that.

Supt Duncan MacPherson from Kingston Police said that reassuring the community has been their priority for the borough's force following the death of Tae Hui.

"The investigation, which we have every confidence in, has been carried forward in direct consultation with the community.

"We wish to convey a sense of our respect for Tae Hui's family and daughter.

"We are continuing our liaison with the Korean community in order to provide reassurance and support following this tragic death," he said.

Anyone with any information can contact the incident room on 020 8721 4205 or if you wish to remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.