This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-16644643

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Betty Yates murder: Letters sent to police Betty Yates murder: Letters sent to police
(about 1 hour later)
Police investigating the murder of a retired teacher in Worcestershire are examining new leads after they received two anonymous letters. Two anonymous letters have been sent to police investigating the murder of a former teacher in Worcestershire.
Betty Yates, 77, was found stabbed in her cottage by the River Severn in Bewdley, Worcestershire, on 4 January. Betty Yates, 77, was found stabbed in her cottage by the River Severn in Bewdley, Worcestershire.
West Mercia Police said they were trying to trace the mystery author of the letters. West Mercia Police said they were trying to trace the mystery authors of the letters.
Police also want to speak to a man in his 20s seen walking near Mrs Yates' cottage on the night she was murdered. Police also want to speak to a man in his 20s seen walking near Mrs Yates' cottage on 2 January - the night police believe she was murdered.
Det Ch Insp Neil Jamieson said: "We are studying two anonymous letters and I would appeal to the people who wrote those to come forward in case they have any other information that could assist this investigation."
Police said they have also been given new information by someone who was driving along a lane close to the scene on the night Mrs Yates was killed.
The driver reported seeing man in his 20s wearing a thigh-length dark-coloured jacket walking alone at about 20:30 GMT.
Det Ch Insp Jamieson said: "We are keen to speak to that man in the strictest confidence."
Police said they have removed the cordon leading from the riverside cottage to Dowles Road after search teams finished combing surrounding fields and woodland.
Purse still missing
Forensic work will be continuing in the cottage "for some time", police said.
Mrs Yates was beaten with her own walking stick and then stabbed in the neck.Mrs Yates was beaten with her own walking stick and then stabbed in the neck.
Her walking stick and the knife used have since been recovered but the keys to the property have not been found. Her walking stick and the knife used have since been recovered.
Officers are still searching for Mrs Yates's keys, which were attached to a black, pencil case-sized purse.