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| Betty Yates murder: 'Devastated' family appeals for help | Betty Yates murder: 'Devastated' family appeals for help |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The daughter of murdered Worcestershire pensioner Betty Yates has said the family is "devastated" by her death. | The daughter of murdered Worcestershire pensioner Betty Yates has said the family is "devastated" by her death. |
| The 77-year-old retired teacher was found stabbed to death at her cottage near Bewdley on 4 January. | The 77-year-old retired teacher was found stabbed to death at her cottage near Bewdley on 4 January. |
| Daughter Hazel Costello said it was possible their mother knew who killed her and "this only makes things worse". | Daughter Hazel Costello said it was possible their mother knew who killed her and "this only makes things worse". |
| She said it was "even more difficult to bear" that it happened in her own home where Mrs Yates had been "so happy". | She said it was "even more difficult to bear" that it happened in her own home where Mrs Yates had been "so happy". |
| Mrs Costello told a media conference: "Our mum and dad searched for many years to find this spot and then built their dream, not just in bricks and mortar. | Mrs Costello told a media conference: "Our mum and dad searched for many years to find this spot and then built their dream, not just in bricks and mortar. |
| "Our father Ray died almost seven years ago and there was never a possibility in our minds that mum would want to leave the cottage. She was so happy there, it is a truly beautiful place filled with shared family memories." | "Our father Ray died almost seven years ago and there was never a possibility in our minds that mum would want to leave the cottage. She was so happy there, it is a truly beautiful place filled with shared family memories." |
| Mrs Yates' son David, who appeared at the media conference alongside Mrs Costello, said their mother had been at the "heart of the community in Bewdley". | Mrs Yates' son David, who appeared at the media conference alongside Mrs Costello, said their mother had been at the "heart of the community in Bewdley". |
| He said since their father's death, their mother had "busied herself because she missed him". | He said since their father's death, their mother had "busied herself because she missed him". |
| "We know from all the cards we have had how much she was loved and will be missed," Mr Yates, 51, said. | "We know from all the cards we have had how much she was loved and will be missed," Mr Yates, 51, said. |
| He added: "We are at a loss to understand why somebody could do this and what we really need is some kind of explanation." | He added: "We are at a loss to understand why somebody could do this and what we really need is some kind of explanation." |
| Mrs Costello, 53, said: "We are completely bewildered as to who would carry out such a savage attack on our mother." | Mrs Costello, 53, said: "We are completely bewildered as to who would carry out such a savage attack on our mother." |
| Appealing for information, she asked anyone who knew anything to come forward. | Appealing for information, she asked anyone who knew anything to come forward. |
| "Please think about how we are hurting and tell the police what you know," she said. | "Please think about how we are hurting and tell the police what you know," she said. |
| Det Ch Insp Neil Jamieson, who is leading the investigation, said it was vital that anyone who had visited Mrs Yates' cottage between 28 December and 2 January contacted detectives. | Det Ch Insp Neil Jamieson, who is leading the investigation, said it was vital that anyone who had visited Mrs Yates' cottage between 28 December and 2 January contacted detectives. |
| "Knowing who else has been at the cottage other than Mrs Yates, even if someone just popped in for a moment, could prevent officers wasting time and resources that could be focused on other parts of the investigation," he said. | "Knowing who else has been at the cottage other than Mrs Yates, even if someone just popped in for a moment, could prevent officers wasting time and resources that could be focused on other parts of the investigation," he said. |
| He said the police still want to speak to the authors of two anonymous letters they were sent earlier in January. | |
| Detectives are also still trying to find a man who was spotted close to the scene on the night Mrs Yates was killed. | |
| A driver reported seeing a man in his 20s wearing a thigh-length dark-coloured jacket at about 20:30 GMT on 2 January. | |
| Det Ch Insp Jamieson said: "We have yet to speak to that individual, however we have had other people come and speak to us who were in the area at the time." | |
| Crimestoppers has offered a £10,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the killer. | Crimestoppers has offered a £10,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the killer. |
| Mrs Yates had been beaten with her walking stick and stabbed in the neck. | Mrs Yates had been beaten with her walking stick and stabbed in the neck. |