NEIGHBOURS have spoken of their shock after the body of an elderly woman was found in a property on a quiet residential street.
Roy Kilner Road in Wombwell remained closed last night as police carried out their investigations in and around the newly built house where the victim was discovered early yesterday.
The 73-year-old woman is said by police to have been found in the living room of the
property with ‘numerous injuries’.
Neighbours said they were shocked to learn news of the murder when police arrived yesterday morning.
Many said they were unsure of the identity of the victim as the small development of properties she lived in had only been completed within the last few months, meaning she had moved in within a matter of weeks.
Louise Keddy, of nearby Barnsley Road, told the Chronicle police had already flooded in when she set off on her way to work in Goldthorpe at around 8am.
“The cordon was put in place immediately as there were ten or so police cars near Roy Kilner Road’s junction. It was approaching rush hour so many people were stopping to see what had happened.
“It became clear that something serious had happened because of the amount of officers involved. It became clear that a woman had died.”
It’s the second murder probe to be launched by police in the town in May, after 42-year-old Claire Louise Smith sustained a ‘severe physical attack’ which led to her death on Britannia Close, near Barnsley town centre, on May 20.
One resident on Roy Kilner Road, who did not wish to be named, said door-to-door enquiries were carried out by officers at the scene throughout yesterday morning.
“They told us that a ‘serious crime’ had happened, but they wouldn’t give further details. I can understand that but as soon as they said that it creates even more panic because you know it probably means a murder or something grave has happened on your own street.
“Scenes of crime officers in white overalls were in and out of the property for most of the morning.
“I checked Facebook as I usually do to find out things and see if there was any news from the police on there. I couldn’t find much, but many Wombwell residents had commented on several pages that a woman had been murdered.
“It’s shocking if that’s true as it’s the second in Barnsley in May. There’s been several in Sheffield as well so it’s very alarming. We hear about antisocial behaviour, burglaries and things like that, but a murder is a different kettle of fish.”
Police said there was an incident team at the scene, with the whole of Roy Kilner Road - which is a dead end - sealed off.
A post mortem examination will take place in the coming days to establish the cause of death, according to police.
A spokesman said officers are working to establish the exact circumstances of what had happened, while CCTV is being obtained from a business premises, Distinctive Flooring and Blinds, which sits on the Barnsley Road/Roy Kilner Road junction.
Shereen Chevens, 49, who lives opposite the scene, added: “The houses have only been up for a few months so all I know is that she was an elderly lady who was new to the area.
“We’ve seen them going in and out of the lady’s house and they’ve been at the flooring place checking their CCTV.”
Detective Chief Inspector Jude Ashmore said delays have been encountering in identifying the woman, and enquiries are being taken to trace her next of kin.
She said: “While there does not appear to be any forced entry to the address, we are exploring all lines of enquiry to be able to piece together and ascertain the exact circumstances of the incident.
“Formal identification of the woman has not yet taken place. Enquiries have been undertaken in an attempt to identify the woman’s next of kin and inform the family of the tragic loss, which has resulted in a slight delay in issuing details of the incident into the wider public domain.
“I would ask anyone with any information to please to call police on 101, quoting incident number 141 of May 31. You can also call the incident room directly on 01709 443510.”
* The case brings the total number of murders in South Yorkshire in the last two weeks to five.
