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PICTURED: Charlie and Gayle Anderson (Photo credit: Anderson Family)

THE SONS of Charlie Anderson, 74, and Gayle Anderson, 71 have released a statement following the news of their parents suspected murder in Jamaica, just a year after the couple sold their house in Manchester and retired to the island.

Their released by the Foreign Office said: "Our parents Charlie and Gayle enjoyed a long and happy marriage of 55 years and leave behind their four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

"They were hardworking people, building a business with integrity and making sure we were always provided for.

"Charlie and Gayle were pillars of the community in Manchester and Jamaica, and were hugely popular and loved by many."

Mr and Mrs Anderson were found dead by neighbours in their home in Mount Pleasant on Friday (June 22) afternoon.

HAPPIER TIMES: Charlie and Gayle Anderson in their youth (Photo credit: Anderson family)

According to the BBC, Jamaican police said their house had been set on fire and that their bodies had been partially burnt. Mr Anderson's body was found 130ft (40 metres) away from the house, while his wife's body was found outside the house.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Throyville Haughton who is leading the investigation, said that residents alerted the police force to the couple’s home shortly after 1:30 p.m.

He said: “Both bodies had wounds to the neck and face. However, we are not yet able to say what might have caused those injuries.

“We are making every effort to bring closure to this heinous crime, and as such, we are getting assistance from our Area Headquarters and also from Technical Services from Kingston. Our detectives are still in the area carrying out investigations."

Mr Anderson, a builder and Mrs Anderson, a supermarket worker, had been married for 55 years and were said to have saved all their lives to return to Mr Anderson’s home country. They settled in a rural community in Hope Bay, Portland, on the northeast of the island.

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