A WIDOWED pensioner may have lay bound on the floor for three days before her body was found by neighbours.

 

Police investigating the murder of 76-year-old Pamela Wheeler in Newacres Road, Thamesmead, believe she may have been attacked on the night of Thursday, July 19.

She was found by a neighbour on Sunday evening (July 22) with her wrists and ankles tied.

Investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Graeme Gwyn said she had suffered "extensive injuries to her upper body and head, indicating she suffered considerably".

Urging people to come forward with information, he said: "That lady at that age did not deserve to die tied up in her own house and suffer that violence."

 

He added: "This is a shocking and tragic crime, taking away all dignity and respect. I would urge anyone who may have any information on this murder to contact us as soon as possible."

Despite Mrs Wheeler’s injuries, a post-mortem examination carried out at Greenwich mortuary on Tuesday, July 24, failed to establish a formal cause of death.

 

Mrs Wheeler was seen Thursday afternoon but her bin bags had not been put out on Friday morning, nor had she left food out for the local cats as usual, leading detectives to believe that she must have been attacked overnight.

DCI Gwyn said: "We have had some witnesses come forward who saw two males acting suspiciously in that area on Thursday night."

 

He is now encouraging anyone else who may have seen people acting suspiciously to come forward.

No arrests have been made yet. Officers searched the house last week after forensic officers finished scouring for clues on Friday.

 

Police are investigating the possibility that Mrs Wheeler’s death was a burglary gone wrong.

DCI Gwyn said: "We don’t know what - if anything - has been taken.

 

"We know that she was known to keep large amounts of money at her address.

"She had a small, hotel-style, personal safe. It was open and empty, but we don’t know if there was anything in it.

 

"Her purse was on the premises and had quite a bit of money in it. That was still there and there are a number of cards still on the premises that had not been taken."

DCI Gwyn asked people to be vigilant of anyone that has come into money suddenly, and to report them to police if it appears suspicious.

 

Anyone with information should call 020 8721 4805, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.