A 'significant level of violence' was used during an attack which left an elderly woman dead and her husband in a critical condition in hospital, police say.
Officers have launched a murder investigation following the incident in Station Road, Langwith Junction, at about 9am on Saturday, January 15. Nottinghamshire Police have since refused to rule out a link between the incident and a burglary in Trowell.
Assistant Chief Constable Dave Kirby, for Derbyshire Police, said although the force was not linking any incidents at this stage, they are looking into similar incidents, and confirmed one of their lines of inquiry for the murder investigation is burglary.
On Monday, January 17, Derbyshire Police confirmed the death of 86-year-old Freda Walker at her home.
Mr Kirby said Freda's husband Ken, 88, "was left for dead" and remains in a critical condition in hospital.
Ken is a member of Shirebrook Town Council and has acted as chairman on 10 different occasions.
He has also represented the area on Bolsover District Council.
Mr Kirby said: "We are pursuing a number of lines of inquiry, including burglary, but we are keeping an open mind.
"I'm confident we will get to the bottom of this.
"We are looking at any other incidents that might be similar to this and might be possible to link, but at this time, we are not linking any other incidents to this one.
"Freda and Ken were very well known in the Langwith Junction area - and there has been an understandable outpouring of grief following Freda’s death.
"My thoughts are with her family and friends - and with the wider community, who are understandably shocked by the news.
"Our thoughts are also with Ken at this time, who remains in a critical condition in hospital.
"A significant level of violence was used in this incident and, while we cannot go into specifics of the offence at this time, this is not being investigated as a domestic incident.
"Again, I understand that this will come as a shock for the community and there will be understandable concern.
"There is an increased police presence in the area, and high visibility patrols will continue in the coming days. I would urge anyone with concerns to speak to officers on patrol or contact the force directly.
"Finally I would urge anyone with information, in particular any drivers with dashcam footage or homeowners with CCTV that covers the period of time between 5pm on Friday, January 14 and 9am on Saturday, January 15, to contact the force as a matter of urgency."
Officers have refused to rule out that this incident is linked to an investigation into an aggravated burglary in Trowell, where a man and woman, in their 80s, were asleep when offenders entered their house, demanded money from them and injured them.
The incident occurred in a house in Stoney Lane at around 12.26am.
The suspect is said to have demanded money from the couple before fleeing the property.
The woman is reported to have sustained cuts to the right side of her head, severe swelling to her arm, and a possible broken jaw.
Her husband is said to have injuries to his face, arms and body but both victim's injuries are not thought to be life-threatening or life-altering.
And around 12 officers were seen searching a section of the woodland this morning (Monday, January 17) - adjacent to the country road - where a large cordon has been put in place.
The force later confirmed that the search was part of an ongoing investigation into a "vicious" attack earlier this month.
Detective Inspector Nicholas Hall, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Officers investigating an aggravated burglary in Stoney Lane, Trowell, at around 12.26am on 6 January, are keeping an open mind about whether it could be linked to a murder investigation in Langwith Junction, Derbyshire.
“In response to community concern and media speculation we would like to make it clear that with any investigation like this we will always look at any similar incidents to see if they may be connected.
“It is very early in both investigations and at this moment, whilst we can’t rule out a link there is also no evidence to suggest they are connected.
“We will be liaising closely with our colleagues in Derbyshire as their investigation continues.
“We would like to send our condolences to those affected by the murder in Langwith Junction.
“Our officers are working incredibly hard to get to the bottom of what happened in Stoney Lane, Trowell, but we would again like to urge anyone who has any information or any CCTV footage to get in touch with us as that information may greatly benefit our inquiries.”
Residents in Trowell also spoke of their shock after two police vans were seen.
Sian Langham, a national account manager on Windsor Close, 31, added: “We moved here in November thinking that this is quite a quiet area.
“We had police coming around asking if we had any CCTV footage but we haven’t been told anything else since.
“We feel like we have been kept in the dark.
“It is very worrying.”
Susan Worboys, a resident who has lived in the area for 45 years, said: “We locked everything up because we are very concerned.”
The 69-year-old added: “I know police came around to warn residents but we must’ve been out when they came.
“Our house is quite secure, but we’re still concerned and shocked.
“It’s just unusual for a place like this.
“I know there was a couple in their 70s who were targeted, and it just worries me."
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