German designer Clemens Weisshaar has been found dead in Portugal close to a burned-out car containing the remains of his young son.
Portuguese media reported that the incident was "a case of homicide, followed by suicide". Weisshaar's car was reportedly found on land he owned in Serra de Grândola south of Lisbon.
Weisshaar's former partner fashion stylist Phoebe Arnold had reported that their three-year-old son Tasso was missing after Weisshaar collected him from her in Lisbon but failed to return him, according to reports.
Weisshaar died of a single gunshot wound. Police suspect he "killed his son and set fire to the car with the child's body inside" before killing himself, according to Portuguese news site Noticias au Minuto. His actions are thought to have been premeditated.
Weisshaar, 44, studied design at Central St Martins art school in London. He was co-founder of pioneering design studio Kram\Weisshaar, which he launched with Stockholm-based designer Reed Kram in 2002.
Kram\Weisshaar developed technology-based products and solutions including Futurecraft Strung, a method of robotically weaving trainer uppers for Adidas.
Originally based in Munich, Weisshaar moved from London to Portugal in 2020 with his then partner Arnold.
People in the UK affected by domestic violence or abuse can contact the following organisations:
National Domestic Abuse Helpline: www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk
Refuge: www.refuge.org.uk/
Women's Aid: www.womensaid.org.uk
National Centre for Domestic Violence: www.ncdv.org.uk