Peter Eric Greener and Sheila Jackson died following an arson attack at their home
Peter Eric Greener, 77, and Sheila Jackson, 83, died following an arson attack at their home on South John Street, in St Helens, on Tuesday 15 July
The first photographs of the couple killed in a “sickening” arson attack which has since prompted a murder investigation have been released by the family. Emergency services rushed to the scene on South John Street in St Helens following reports of a house fire.
Fire crews worked to put the fire out, which neighbours said took hold of the front door, with the couple being rescued from their home in the early hours of Tuesday, July 15. They were rushed to hospital but it was announced Peter, better known to family and friends as Eric, had died on Wednesday night with his partner Sheila dying in hospital the following morning.
The motive behind the horrifying incident is yet to be established, with police appealing for information as a joint investigation with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service has been launched.
Speaking to the ECHO from Merseyside Police’s HQ, detective superintendent Rachel Wilson said detectives were treating their deaths as murder.
The senior officer told the ECHO officers working on the case with investigators from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service believe an accelerant was used to start the blaze. Detective Superintendent Wilson said: “We believe this was a deliberate, malicious attack on that address.
“In terms of motive or further details about the accelerant, there’s still lots of investigation to progress.” She said police and the fire service are working to establish what the accelerant was, but believe it was used at the front of the end-terrace house.
The officer added: “In terms of motive, that is an urgent line of enquiry for us. We want to establish why that address was targeted, if it is a targeted address. We are 48 hours in and pursuing some good lines of enquiry, but it’s too early to say.”
Mr Greener and Ms Jackson
Detective superintendent Wilson told the ECHO that grandparents Mr Greener and Ms Jackson had been together for 30 years and had been living at the address in St Helens for 15.
She said: “Neighbours described them as a lovely couple. It’s horrendous what has happened to a lovely couple living in a residential street. We are supporting the family through this horrendous time for them while we establish what happened and why.”
Neighbours who spoke to the ECHO from the scene of the blaze described the pair as “good people”. Gavin Thelwell, who lives on the same block of terraced houses as the fire-damaged home, said: “When I came out of my house, there were fire engines that had already arrived, but the front door was on fire, which was stopping the firefighters from getting inside.
“They had to put that out before they managed to get them out of the house.” He continued: “I feel so sorry for them; they’re good people. I chat with them all the time. He’s usually walking down with his walking frame to go to the pub, and he’ll stop halfway by the street sign to have a break. They were always really nice – I just can’t believe this has happened. It’s so bad.”
Merseyside Police confirmed investigators currently don’t have any identified suspects with efforts to find those responsible a priority for the force. Detective chief inspector Steve McGrath said it was “difficult to comprehend how someone could deliberately start a fire while two elderly people are inside the home”.
He urged members of the community to contact the force “as a matter of urgency” to aid the investigation, adding: “If you have CCTV or a smart doorbell, take the time to review any footage you have to see if you captured anything that could prove to be significant. Even if it appears to be a small detail, it could end up being vital to our inquiries.
Anyone with information should contact Merseyside Police social media desk via X @MerPolCC or on Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’. You can also report information via the website: Report a crime | Merseyside Police or call 101 quoting incident reference 25000580909.Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website here:Giving information anonymously | Crimestoppers. In an emergency always call 999.