A man stabbed his ex-partner's mother to death then left a chilling message in blood before leaping from the top floor of a city centre car park, a police source said.
His victim was named locally as Carol Berry, 66, who was knifed at her semi-detached bungalow in the Bradley area of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, at about 6.40pm on Friday.
He also stabbed her 36-year-old son, named by locals as Andrew Field, who remained in hospital.
The 40-year-old, yet to be formally identified by police, then travelled 30 miles to a multi-storey car park in Hanover Street, Manchester, where he jumped from the eighth floor soon after midnight. Written in blood on a wall was the chilling message: "F*** you Claire."
A source said the message was linked to the murder investigation, and was thought to be directed at the man's ex-partner, named by locals as Claire Tootill. It was understood the couple had split acrimoniously.
"It is not known if the woman who died was the intended victim," the source said. "But she might well have been."
Police believe no-one else was involved in what they described as a "targeted" and "domestic-related" attack. And the killer was not thought to have links to the West Yorkshire area.
Ms Berry's home was cordoned off and a police officer stood at the end of her drive. Blood could be seen smeared on her white front door. The property was well-shielded from view by conifers, and neighbours said the owner "kept herself to herself". One said: "If I saw her walking down the street, I wouldn't recognise her."
Meanwhile in Manchester, the spot from where the killer jumped was unguarded by police, and more blood could clearly be seen on railings. "It is believed he had fallen from the roof," the force said. "The death is not believed to be suspicious."
Mr Field remained in hospital, where his injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.
