A murder probe has been launched after an elderly woman in her 70s was found dead inside her own home.
Church leader Nelly Akomah, 76, was found fatally injured at the bottom of the stairs in her home in Croydon, south London, late on Wednesday evening.
Her neighbours claimed that her CCTV had been cut and the alarm disconnected just before the attack and the Met Police are now conducting an investigation, with no arrests having been made so far.
Officers are also appealing to members of the public who might have any information over the incident as today they cordoned off the entire length of Ladbrook Road.
Forensic units are combing her £450,000 terraced home today as neighbours recalled their horror as police poured onto their street yesterday.
Mum-of-four Kamaleta Blake, 70, who has lived on the street for 23 years, said: “The police came yesterday, there were loads of them, plain clothed officers, forensics, detectives.
“They were here in their numbers. They came out with evidence bags.
“The woman last spoke to her sister on Tuesday night but then they were not hearing anything from her again.
“Her sister came down to check on and and found her at the bottom of tree stairs. They are looking at murder now - it’s because she had a black eye.
“The alarm had been disconnected and that’s why they are doing forensics. Obviously people tried to resuscitate her but she had already died.
“I’ve lived here for 23 years and a lot of people have lived here for a long duration. It know she was a lady in her 70s.
“This is the first time something like this has happened. Sometimes I leave my car door open by mistake and there’s never a problem.
“This is a wake-up call call, last night I closed all the windows. We don’t really have any issues here.”
Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s terrifying. The police came at 10am yesterday morning.”
This afternoon a team of specialist plain-clothed detectives arrived at the scene to begin collecting evidence.
Mum-of-one Oana Lavric, 37, who has lived on the street since 2016, said: “The police were here yesterday. I don’t know the woman but it’s terrible - I walk this way every day. It’s terrifying.
“I’m scared. I can’t sleep at night, just overthinking, overthinking, overthinking what has happened.
“You don’t expect this level of violence - I hope they catch who has done this.”
The Evening Standard reported that neighbours in Croydon, south London, claimed her CCTV had been cut before the attack.
A neighbour, aged 62, told the outlet: “She was found at the bottom of stairs we are told. The belief is that it was an intruder maybe there to steal her stuff and she interrupted them.
“We are heartbroken she was our neighbour for 20 years. A lovely churchgoing woman. She was always very well dressed. She was not doddery, she was very strong and always out doing her own shopping, she certainly wouldn’t have just fallen down the stairs. Just a smart, smiley, lady.”
Officers were called by the London Ambulance Service at 10:40hrs on Wednesday, 21 June to reports of a woman, aged in her mid-70s, found dead at a house on Ladbrook Road, SE25.
Her family has been informed. Formal identification is yet to take place, and a post-mortem examination will be held in due course.
Detectives from the Specialist Crime Command are leading the investigation.
Detectives would like to speak with anyone who saw anything suspicious in the vicinity of Ladbrook Road.
Detective Chief Inspector Kate Blackburn, said: “We are in the early stages of our investigation but I am urging anyone with information to contact us as soon as possible.
“An elderly woman has lost her life and it is vitally important that we establish what happened.
“Did you hear anything, or see someone in the area who looked out of place? Please call us.”
Officers will remain in the area and anyone with concerns is advised to speak with them.
There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.
Anyone with information is asked to call police via 101 quoting reference CAD 2540/21Jun.
Dame Susan Solanke, lay president her Nelly's church, said her death was a "big blow" to the church and extended her sympathies to her family and children.
She added: “Sister Nelly, only last week we were all at a weekend retreat, full of life.
"You were such a valuable member of the mission who will be sorely missed. My heart is broken with this cruel, mindless and senseless attack. I pray God brings the culprits to book asap."
