This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/tees/8254383.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Grandmother's killer fled in taxi Grandmother's killer fled in taxi
(20 minutes later)
A killer who strangled a grandmother before setting fire to her bungalow, called a taxi to the murder scene, police have revealed. A killer strangled a grandmother and then kept a taxi waiting outside as he set fire to her bungalow, police said.
The body of 85-year-old Patricia Thompson was found at her home in Stockton, Teesside, on 5 September. The body of Patricia Thompson, 85, was found at her fire-damaged home in Stockton, Teesside, on 5 September.
Police said a taxi firm was called from the widow's home at 2300 BST by a man calling himself Steven. The taxi later picked up a man carrying two suitcases. Detectives have revealed a man calling himself Steven called a taxi from her bungalow at 2300 BST.
The man, in his mid-20s, was dropped off at Redcar Road in South Bank. A man later emerged from the home and told the driver to wait for a couple of minutes. Officers believe he returned to torch the house to cover his tracks.
Police said he told the driver to wait for a couple of minutes after emerging from Mrs Thompson's bungalow. The man, in his mid-20s, was later dropped off at Redcar Road in South Bank after departing from Mrs Thompson's bungalow in Emma Simpson Court in Hartburn.
He then went back inside and came out about five minutes later. It is during this time police believe he was setting fire to the the property.
Det Supt Gordon Lang described the killer as 'evil'Det Supt Gordon Lang described the killer as 'evil'
Det Supt Gordon Lang, of Cleveland Police, said: "We need information about the name Steven - at this stage we do not know if it is the man's real name and it may be an alias.Det Supt Gordon Lang, of Cleveland Police, said: "We need information about the name Steven - at this stage we do not know if it is the man's real name and it may be an alias.
"This is an extremely positive lead and the pieces of the jigsaw are starting to come together."This is an extremely positive lead and the pieces of the jigsaw are starting to come together.
"It is now only a matter of time before we track down this evil individual to face the consequences of his actions.""It is now only a matter of time before we track down this evil individual to face the consequences of his actions."
The man is described as white, between 5ft 11in and 6ft tall, of slim to medium build, with gingery brown-coloured hair, a long thin face, a thin nose and two to three days' worth of stubble.The man is described as white, between 5ft 11in and 6ft tall, of slim to medium build, with gingery brown-coloured hair, a long thin face, a thin nose and two to three days' worth of stubble.
He was wearing a light-coloured fleece type jacket, light blue jeans and white trainers.He was wearing a light-coloured fleece type jacket, light blue jeans and white trainers.
One of his bags is described as hand luggage which was being wheeled. One of his dark-coloured bags is described as hand luggage that was being wheeled.