An 82-year-old girl described her attackers to police hours earlier than she died, sparking a homicide investigation.
Joy Middleditch instructed officers masked males burst into her house, knocked her to the bottom after which stole her purse earlier than leaving her on the ground till she was discovered by family the next day.
The pensioner from Pakefield, Suffolk, died in hospital on Monday, with police describing the assault on her as “cowardly and callous”.
On Wednesday, the property was nonetheless sealed off from the road by blue and white police tape and an officer in a white forensic swimsuit was working inside the house.
A uniformed officer stood exterior beside a marked automotive, and floral tributes had piled up on the garden, with one card addressed “To the family of Joy” and one other saying “From someone who cares X”.
Sarsfield Donohue, Acting Superintendent (East Area) for Suffolk Police, stated the one description of the suspects is from Ms Middleditch herself.
He stated it’s thought she was attacked between the night of Friday 24 March and the early hours of Saturday 25 March.
Officers have been known as to her house in Grayson Avenue at round 2pm on Saturday after relations discovered her mendacity on the ground, Mr Donohue stated.
He stated she was discovered “conscious and breathing” however was in a “serious condition” and was taken to the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston, Norfolk.
She died there within the early hours of Monday.
‘Two masked males pressured entry into her house’
Mr Donohue stated a autopsy examination was carried out on Monday “but the exact cause of death is yet to be ascertained so that’s pending further tests”.
“When we initially spoke to her at the scene, prior to her being taken off to hospital, it was reported that she heard a noise at the door,” stated the officer.
“At which point when she went to investigate, what she described as two masked males have forced entry into her home.
“She’s been knocked to the bottom.
“At some point during this incident a handbag has been stolen from the premises and then she was left at the premises until she was found by her family the following day.”
He stated the purse that was stolen was recovered “a short distance away in Nelson Road”.
Mr Donohue stated the incident was a “really cowardly and callous attack on what was an elderly and vulnerable female in their own home”.
In a press release, her household stated: “Joy was a strong, determined character who loved life and her dog.
“She was a loving one who was sadly taken from us too quickly.
“We as a family would like to thank the police and the community for all their help and support.”
Source: information.sky.com”