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Betty Yates murder: Teacher 'beaten with her walking stick' | Betty Yates murder: Teacher 'beaten with her walking stick' |
(40 minutes later) | |
Detectives investigating the murder of a retired teacher have said they think she was assaulted with her walking stick before being stabbed in her home. | Detectives investigating the murder of a retired teacher have said they think she was assaulted with her walking stick before being stabbed in her home. |
Betty Yates, 77, was found at the foot of her stairs in her cottage by the River Severn in Bewdley in Worcestershire on 4 January. | Betty Yates, 77, was found at the foot of her stairs in her cottage by the River Severn in Bewdley in Worcestershire on 4 January. |
West Mercia Police have also revealed her home was locked when her body was discovered. | West Mercia Police have also revealed her home was locked when her body was discovered. |
Her walking stick and the knife used have since been recovered. | Her walking stick and the knife used have since been recovered. |
But the keys to the property have not yet been located, police said on Monday. | But the keys to the property have not yet been located, police said on Monday. |
'Sustained attack' | 'Sustained attack' |
Officers were alerted by a friend of Birmingham-born Mrs Yates after she failed to turn up for an organised walk the day before she was found. | |
Her provisional cause of death has been given as stab wounds to the neck. | Her provisional cause of death has been given as stab wounds to the neck. |
A major incident room has been set up and officers are following up "many lines of inquiries" as part of the murder inquiry. | A major incident room has been set up and officers are following up "many lines of inquiries" as part of the murder inquiry. |
Det Ch Insp Neil Jamieson, who is leading the investigation, said Mrs Yates was the victim of a "sustained and violent attack" and urged anyone with information to contact them. | Det Ch Insp Neil Jamieson, who is leading the investigation, said Mrs Yates was the victim of a "sustained and violent attack" and urged anyone with information to contact them. |
Confirming the property was locked when police arrived, he said finding the keys would be "significant". | Confirming the property was locked when police arrived, he said finding the keys would be "significant". |
He said: "It is possible that the cottage was locked up by the killer or killers when they left using keys Mrs Yates normally carried with her. | He said: "It is possible that the cottage was locked up by the killer or killers when they left using keys Mrs Yates normally carried with her. |
"These were on a fob attached to a black, pencil case-size purse which we have not yet found. | "These were on a fob attached to a black, pencil case-size purse which we have not yet found. |
"Finding this would be significant and I would urge anyone who may have found or seen them in the area to let us know immediately." | "Finding this would be significant and I would urge anyone who may have found or seen them in the area to let us know immediately." |
Mrs Yates's cottage remains cordoned off as searches of the nearby area continued. | Mrs Yates's cottage remains cordoned off as searches of the nearby area continued. |
"We are very grateful for the response but would urge anyone else who has not yet come forward to do so without delay," Mr Jamieson added. | "We are very grateful for the response but would urge anyone else who has not yet come forward to do so without delay," Mr Jamieson added. |
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