Fetcham murders: Police issue 'urgent' appeal for 38-year-old Viktoras Bruzas in connection with double stabbing

Public are warned not to approach the suspect after Patrick and Gillian Kettyle found murdered in Surrey town

A manhunt is underway across two counties after a couple were found stabbed to death in a small Surrey town.

The pair, believed to have been in their 50s and named locally as Patrick and Gillian Kettyle, were discovered in their home in The Copse, near Leatherhead, Fetcham, by an unnamed family member. Surrey Police arrived on the scene at 12.30am. Both individuals were pronounced dead at the scene.

Police officers appear to have discovered a damaged knife near the scene of the crime. Officers were seen placing a black and silver knife, which had a broken blade, into an evidence bag after finding it underneath a large tree. Police refused to confirm it was connected to the crime.

Local police are urgently searching for 38-year-old Surrey resident Viktoras Bruzas in connection with the event, while another man – also in his 30s – has been arrested in connection with the incident on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Preston, of the Surrey and Sussex major crime team, said: "We are still in the very early stages of the investigation but we need to trace Viktoras Bruzas as a matter of urgency.

“I would urge members of the public not to approach him but to call Surrey Police immediately if they know his whereabouts.”

He added: "A large number of officers from Surrey and Sussex are working on locating Mr Bruzas.”

Mr Bruzas, originally from Kaunas, Lithuania, but currently living in Walton-on-Thames, is thought to be driving a black Mercedes registration AU11 WJY.

His Facebook profile indicates he has worked as a self-employed builder since March 1999 and supports Chelsea FC.

Police also said he may have connections to south-east London.

It is thought that Mr Bruzas knew Mr and Mrs Kettyle. The couple are reputed to have run a successful building company, with a business registered in the couple's name and address showing the organisation had a net worth of over £3 million.

The two suspects are also believed to know each other.

A neighbour of the couple, who asked not to be named, claimed her husband had heard dogs barking last night when he returned home at around middnight.

"There was a huge amount of barking, like a couple of dogs barking at something, and it seemed to go on for quite a long time.

"More importantly, it went quiet, then about 20 minutes or so later what I thought were the couple's dogs started barking.

"They must be in a kennel in the garden, and I thought I heard someone come out and tell them to be quiet. It was a man's voice, saying 'Quiet', and the dogs carried on barking for quite a while after that," she said.

A woman walking nearby said Mr and Mrs Kettyle, who had one 16-year-old son, were "very close, very friendly" but private.

Anyone with information should contact Surrey Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Additional reporting from PA