A 6-year-old girl who missed school on January 20, 2025, led police to her father’s home in Calder, Scotland. There, they made a heartbreaking discovery: both were found dead.

As more details unfold, the tragedy is gripping the UK.

Shared custody of the young girl

When a six-year-old girl doesn’t make it to school, it could be for any number of reasons – but for little Hope, it turned into the unthinkable.

When she didn’t arrive at school, concern quickly grew.

Police were sent to her father’s house, where they made a heartbreaking discovery. With assistance from fire crews, officers were able to gain entry to the property. Inside the home, authorities discovered 36-year-old Mark Gordon and his daughter Hope, both deceased.

”Police Scotland responded to what we class as a ‘concern for’ call on Monday January 20,” Chief Superintendent Gregg Banks said. ”That call related to concern from a family member around their child failing to attend school.”

According to reports, Gordon and Hope’s mother shared custody of the young girl. She had been spending time at her father’s home when authorities found their bodies, as police revealed during the same press conference.

Police remained tight-lipped

Initially, the police remained tight-lipped about the situation, explaining they didn’t yet know why both the father and daughter had been found dead. Officers stated that there was no evidence at the time to suggest anyone else had been involved in the incident.

They also added that the investigation was in its earliest stages and asked the community to refrain from speculating about the cause of death.

Little Hope was mourned at her school, and shocked students and family members have been offered support from specialist officers.

A bubbly girl with a kind heart
Fiona Linfoot, head teacher at Toronto Primary School in Livingston, where Hope was a student, remembered her as ”a bright, bubbly and affectionate girl.”

In a statement, she shared: “Hope was a much-loved member of the Toronto Primary family, and will be hugely missed by all her friends and school staff.”

”She was a bright, bubbly and affectionate girl who brought joy to everyone she met.”

”We will really miss her infectious smile and kind heart.”

Treated as murder
A few days after the discovery of Hope and her father’s bodies, police shared an important update. According to BBC, the death of six-year-old Hope in West Calder, West Lothian, is now being treated as murder.

Police confirmed that Mr. Gordon’s death is still unexplained, pending a post-mortem exam that will take place soon.

Superintendent Grant Hendry from Police Scotland’s major investigations team said, ”Our thoughts remain with Hope’s family and friends, along with everyone affected by this tragedy. The families are understandably devastated and we are providing them with support through specialist officers at this extremely difficult time. Our team of officers continue to carry out inquiries to get answers for the families and at this time, we have no information to suggest anyone else is involved.”

Police appeal
He also encouraged anyone with information to reach out to the police, no matter how small it might seem.

Divisional Commander Chief Superintendent Gregg Banks added, ”This is a shocking and deeply upsetting incident for the families involved, and the impact is felt right across the local community.”

As police continue their investigation, questions remain, but one thing is clear: the love and warmth Hope brought into the world will never be forgotten. Her joyful spirit, kind heart, and infectious smile touched everyone she met.

If you have any information, no matter how small, it could make all the difference in providing answers and bringing some form of closure to those who mourn.