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Woman, 90, murdered in her home | Woman, 90, murdered in her home |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Detectives say a 90-year-old widow, murdered in her home in Swansea, had been the victim of a burglary. | |
The body of Avril Evans was found by her 60-year-old son at her end of terrace home in Grandison Street in Hafod at 2100 GMT on Thursday. | |
A post mortem examination will take place later on Friday. | |
Thirty police officers are working on the inquiry and police have appealed to anyone who was in the area between 1500 GMT and 2100 GMT to contact them. | |
Inspector Helen Summerfield, of South Wales Police, said they were treating the death as murder. | Inspector Helen Summerfield, of South Wales Police, said they were treating the death as murder. |
She said: "We don't know how she died yet, we are going to have to wait for the forensic and pathologist's reports." | She said: "We don't know how she died yet, we are going to have to wait for the forensic and pathologist's reports." |
Officers would like to hear from anyone who may have seen Mrs Evans at any point on Thursday, or anyone who saw something suspicious in the area during the day. | Officers would like to hear from anyone who may have seen Mrs Evans at any point on Thursday, or anyone who saw something suspicious in the area during the day. |
Forensic officers are at the scene | Forensic officers are at the scene |
Neighbour Wendy Pridmore said: "I've lived here for 40 years and Mrs Evans has lived her much longer than that. She was very quiet, kept herself to herself and didn't have visitors apart from her family. | Neighbour Wendy Pridmore said: "I've lived here for 40 years and Mrs Evans has lived her much longer than that. She was very quiet, kept herself to herself and didn't have visitors apart from her family. |
"I can't understand why anyone would want to hurt her - she did no harm to anyone at all and for something like this to happen is horrendous. | "I can't understand why anyone would want to hurt her - she did no harm to anyone at all and for something like this to happen is horrendous. |
"It's scary, it's a quiet street - my son plays football on the street with his friends, most people have lived here all their lives and know each other well." | "It's scary, it's a quiet street - my son plays football on the street with his friends, most people have lived here all their lives and know each other well." |
Freda Duffy, 67, said: "She seems to have lived around here forever. Hearing about this is a total shock. | Freda Duffy, 67, said: "She seems to have lived around here forever. Hearing about this is a total shock. |
"Although she was 90 years old she still did all her own shopping and would often stop and speak to me if I saw her in the street. But generally she kept herself to herself. | "Although she was 90 years old she still did all her own shopping and would often stop and speak to me if I saw her in the street. But generally she kept herself to herself. |
'Terrible' | 'Terrible' |
"I know her son Allan is devastated by what has happened, as anyone would be. He would visit his mother with her grandchildren at least once a week - often more. They were very close. | "I know her son Allan is devastated by what has happened, as anyone would be. He would visit his mother with her grandchildren at least once a week - often more. They were very close. |
"He came and saw me last night and cried his heart out. This has devastated him, but there's just nothing you can say." | "He came and saw me last night and cried his heart out. This has devastated him, but there's just nothing you can say." |
Another neighbour Norma Brookes added: "She was a very quiet person, a bit of a loner. Just like me, she was living on her own. | Another neighbour Norma Brookes added: "She was a very quiet person, a bit of a loner. Just like me, she was living on her own. |
"It's just terrible, especially now just before Christmas." | "It's just terrible, especially now just before Christmas." |
She said Mrs Evans' late husband used to work at a nearby council depot. | She said Mrs Evans' late husband used to work at a nearby council depot. |
Local councillor Robert Speht said the news was "very shocking". | Local councillor Robert Speht said the news was "very shocking". |
"My heart goes out to all the family of Mrs Evans. Hafod is a very close-knit community - this will send shockwaves throughout the community," he said. | "My heart goes out to all the family of Mrs Evans. Hafod is a very close-knit community - this will send shockwaves throughout the community," he said. |
Anyone with information is asked to call 01656 655555 and ask for the incident room at Cockett police station or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. | Anyone with information is asked to call 01656 655555 and ask for the incident room at Cockett police station or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. |