A man arrested after a "lovely" and "bubbly" mum was stabbed to death in her home remains in hospital nine months later.
Merseyside Police received calls at around 8.30am on May 11, 2022, reporting the body of a woman had been found inside a property on Radway Road, Huyton, close to the junction with Lyme Cross Road. Officers and paramedics attended but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim was named as Lorraine Cullen, a 43-year-old mum who had lived in the area for a number of years. Merseyside Police later confirmed she had died as a result of stab wounds.
A 21-year-old man, who detectives say is known to the victim, was arrested a short time later on suspicion of murder. The ECHO was told he was arrested on York Road, a short distance away.
After the arrest Merseyside Police said the man had been detained under the Mental Health Act and was receiving treatment, and confirmed no-one else was being sought over the incident. Today the force confirmed there has been no change in his status and no criminal charges have yet been brought.
Ms Cullen was said to have a young daughter of primary school age who lived with her in the property, as well as an adult son and an adult daughter.
Family friend Paula McNally, 45, said shortly after her death: "She was my friend and her daughter is friends with my son. We've all known her for quite some time. She was just the life and soul of the party. She was bubbly, so positive and just chatty. She was just never a negative person."
One woman, who lived near the scene, told the ECHO at the time: "It was just after all the kids were going to school. The police came and there were a few people gathered outside. I heard she was dead.
"The ambulances came but they didn't put anyone inside. I didn't know her well but she was a lovely person. I would go over when the little one was playing in the garden and speak to her. She was playing outside on the trampoline last night."
Another neighbour said: "She was a lovely looking girl, it is devastating, absolutely devastating. She was bubbly, I didn't know her well but she was lovely.
"I just heard the police just before nine this morning and I ran down, they were cordoning off the road. The ambulance came and they went inside but they did not take anyone out."
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