The fugitive killer of a convicted sex offender in south-east London dismembered his body and removed his limbs from his flat, police have revealed.

Noel Brown, 69, was found next to his daughter, Marie Brown, 41, who had also been killed at his home in New Butt Lane, Deptford, on 4 December. Both had been strangled and detectives are hunting a suspect captured on CCTV carrying a large rucksack.

Family members have described Marie Brown as a “calm, peaceful person”.

DCI Simon Harding revealed that parts of both Noel Brown’s arms and a part of one of his legs had been removed from the scene, and had not been recovered.

A CCTV image of the suspect. Photograph: Metropolitan police/PA

“In my 27 years of policing, I have not seen anything quite like this,” he said. He added that there was no trace of the missing body parts after police divers searched nearby Deptford Creek, and specialist dogs had scoured the estate.

Brown was convicted of a sex offence and jailed in 1999, but has been described as “well-liked and well-respected” in the area, having been released in 2004.

Harding said the victim’s criminal past was being treated as a significant line of inquiry and people involved at the time had been questioned by police.

A CCTV image of the suspect. Photograph: Metropolitan police/PA

He played down earlier speculation that Brown, who gambled regularly, may have been murdered over a big betting win, adding: “It could be a stranger or a failed robbery or burglary.”

It is believed Brown’s daughter stumbled across his murderer in his flat and was killed as a result. A neighbour saw Brown at his home at about 8pm on Thursday 30 November, and at about midday on Saturday 2 December his daughter went to his flat out of concern for his welfare. She was not seen again alive.

The Metropolitan police believe the suspect visited the flat at least four times between late Thursday evening and when the bodies were found.

Noel Brown in Paddy Power bookmakers on 30 November. Photograph: Metropolitan police/PA

A series of CCTV clips show the suspect, who appears to be aged in his 20s or 30s, dressed in a hooded top, dark-coloured jacket and trousers or jogging bottoms, dark trainers and carrying a rucksack. He is seen in the footage walking along Deptford Broadway towards the junction with the A2209 and then along Reginald Road at about 5am on 2 December.



In one clip, he appears to cross the road to avoid walking straight past a woman in a light-coloured jacket coming in the opposite direction.

Police have also released two new images of Noel Brown from the last day that he was known to be alive, taken from Paddy Power bookmakers in Deptford High Street on 30 November.

Assisting the appeal, a statement from Marie Brown’s family said: “As a family we are struggling to put together an appeal because we are still in shock and disbelief. Marie was the peacemaker and we cannot understand why this would happen to her. It is obvious that we need to find the person or people who have done this to her, but we have no information and need your help.”

They added: “Marie was a calm, peaceful person, slow to anger and quick to forgive. She never got caught up in any sort of fight and avoided feuds with anyone because she didn’t want to be a part of anyone’s upset. To know Marie would be to know how much she loved. Her life was her kids and how much she loved them and would do anything for them.”