An elderly widow was brutally attacked and killed in her own home during a suspected botched burglary, police revealed today.
Una Crown, 86, was discovered in her bungalow in Wisbech, Cambs., shortly after 11am on Sunday.
The tragic pensioner was last seen alive on Friday morning and police are treating her death as murder.
A post mortem examination carried out at Peterborough City Hospital on Tuesday evening confirmed Una died as a result of a “brutal assault”.
Detective Chief Inspector Jon Hutchinson confirmed that police are investigating whether Una was killed following a botched burglary.
He said: “Mrs Crown died as a result of a brutal assault in her own home.
“What we know is she was last seen by her family at 11am on Friday. We believe she had telephone contact with family at 6pm on Saturday.
“At this stage we can narrow down the time she died to between 6pm on Saturday and 10.30am on Sunday.
“Searches and house to house enquiries are still going on. It is too early to speculate about what happened.
“Our investigation is still at a very early stage and we are trying to build up a picture of the events that lead to her death.
“One option is to establish if there are any signs of a break in or forced entry.
“It is extremely rare for anyone to be murdered in their own home. And violence against the elderly is even rarer.
“We have up to 50 officers working on the investigation. This investigation is being significantly resourced and we will not leave any stone unturned until we bring who did this to justice.
“I appeal to anyone who has any information, it does not matter how small, that might help the investigation to contact us.
“Mrs Crown was a widow, but had family living locally. We have specialised officers providing support to the family at this particularly difficult time.
“Her murder has obviously devastated her family and I would urge anyone with any information to call police.”
Neighbours at Una’s bungalow in Wisbech, Cambs., yesterday (Weds) described her as a “perfect neighbour” with “a heart of gold”.
One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: “We’re so shocked that something like this could happen.
“She was so vulnerable. How could anyone do this?”
She added that Una was “lonely” following the death of her husband a few years ago.
The couple did not have any children, but Una had family living locally and her neighbours, who spoke to her regularly, also helped look after her.
Una’s husband, Jack Roland, known as Ron, died on Boxing Day, 2009, at the North Cambs Hospital, Wisbech – Ron and Una had been married for 60 years.
