London – 83-Year-Old Dead Woman Found Tied Up in Bedroom

London – Murder squad detectives are investigating the death of a north London pensioner found tied up in her bedroom.
The 83-year-old woman was discovered with her legs wrapped in duct tape in her three-storey home.

Officers accompanied by paramedics forced their way into the house in 3 Leweston Place, Stamford Hill, after a niece raised the alarm.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said the death of the woman, who lived alone, is being treated as “suspicious”.

She said the victim had no obvious injuries and officers are investigating if there was a break-in.

The spokeswoman said: “We believe we know the identity of the deceased but await formal identification and all next of kin to be informed. A post-mortem examination will be arranged in due course.”

Neighbors said that the dead woman was Jewish and had lived in the house for as long as people on the street could remember.

One neighbor said that following the deaths from illness of her siblings over the past few years the dead woman had said that she just wanted to be left alone.

Detective Chief Inspector Caroline Goode, of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, is leading the inquiry.

Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room on 020 8345 3715 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

U/D: 11:55 am
Police say that Eveline Kelmenson died during a suspected robbery, and detectives said they searching for evidence of a break-in at the terraced property. They are also reviewing their investigation into an incident last year when she was targeted by thieves posing as gardeners.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said she spoke to her several weeks ago. She said: “She told me that there was somebody after her money but I didn’t ask any more about it. I just assumed she was old and confused.”

Next-door neighbour Rebecca Goldberger, who has lived in the area for more than 16 years, said the elderly woman had been targeted by criminals before. She said the Mrs Kelmenson was robbed last year by conmen posing as gardeners who tricked their way into the house and stole money.

Mrs Goldberger said: “The police say the house has been very cold so I think that is confusing things about when she might have died. Nobody knows how long she’s been there.

“This is quite a busy street and there are always people coming and going. Everybody is shocked.”

Leah Klein, who moved into the area two years ago, said: “She was very active and I always used to wonder how old she was. After her sister died she didn’t seem to want any company. “I would see her in the mornings when she went out to run her errands and I would see her in the evenings when she called her cat in. “I haven’t seen her for nearly two weeks now, but I just thought that I’d missed her, I never thought anything of it.”

Forensics officers could be seen going in and out of the house and small crowds of onlookers had gathered as people in the largely orthodox Jewish area prepared for the Sabbath.