Second body discovered at York property – as neighbours say they don’t feel safe

A body has been found at a property on Markham Crescent in York for the second time in just over a week.

Police have tonight confirmed that a 35-year-old man was found dead at the property.

Residents on the street say it is the same flat the one where a body was discovered just over a week earlier. And they say their quiet, respectable cul-de-sac has become a frightening place to live in recent weeks.

We reported last week that paramedics were called to the Markham Crescent property in the Groves last Tuesday (19 October) and found the man dead.

Police were called and two men, aged 34 and 40, were arrested.

Earlier today, police said that they had been called to “an incident” on Markham Crescent.

Tonight, a force spokesperson said: “North Yorkshire Police can confirm that a 35 year-old man was found dead at the property. The man was not a resident of the property.

“Three men have been arrested in relation to this incident and are currently in police custody.

“Investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the man’s death.

“If anyone has information which could assist the investigation please call 101 quoting ref: 12210230079

“You will see increased patrols from our Neighbourhood Policing Team in the local area over the next few days so please do feel free to speak to them if you have any concerns.”

Serious assault

YorkMix has spoken to residents in the street who told us the character of the cul-de-sac has changed recently.

“Most of the properties are home to professional people and pensioners, and there are four student flats. So as you can imagine it’s fairly quiet, you get the odd student party but that’s it,” one resident said.

“Everyone knows everyone, we have book groups and a barbecue in the summer.”

But a new tenant moved in to the troubled property and, from about two months ago, “there’s been all sorts of people making their way down there who, to put it bluntly, you wouldn’t really want coming down your street.

“About three weeks ago, there was some kind of incident there. And it was a serious assault – there were police and a CSI team there.

“And then two weeks ago, lo and behold, we have this death in the property. We still don’t know what happened with that. No one’s told us anything. Police were here for several days.”

The resident said it went quiet for a few days after that. “And then yesterday afternoon, it turns out there’s been another death in that flat.”

Neighbours message each other

Neighbours feel the owner of the property, said to be the York Housing Association, should have been more proactive in sorting the situation. We have contacted the association for a response.

Residents are now fearful of going down their street. The resident we spoke to said they had told their partner not to walk or cycle down the back alley any more. “Most of the people you see going down [to the property] are totally off their faces,” they told us.

Neighbours are now messaging each other to ask if it was safe to come home. “People don’t even feel safe in their own street any more.”

Having lived there for nearly 20 years “I can’t recall us even having a burglary on the street. It’s super quiet.

“And now we’ve had all this happen.”

The police should be doing more, residents believe. “Given that it’s the second death in two weeks, you’d think they’d be a bit more willing to show some kind of community relations going on.

“How many more of these do we have to see happen before you guys actually do something about it?”