AN elderly widow was strangled before two fires were started in her home to destroy forensic evidence, detectives revealed yesterday.

The murderer is believed to have used their bare hands to kill Patricia Thompson, who was found dead in her bed at her home in Hartburn, Stockton, at about 11.30pm on Saturday.

The 85-year-old’s daughter made an emotional plea for information at a press conference at Cleveland Police headquarters, in Middlesbrough, yesterday.

Catherine Howard, 48, said: “Mum was always so full of life and she was loved by everyone who knew her.

“We’ll truly miss her – she was the centre of our family.

We can’t understand why anybody would want to hurt her.

Our lives will never be the same without her.”

Detective Superintendent Gordon Lang, of Cleveland Police’s murder investigation team, said two fires, one in her bedroom and one in the lounge, had been started after the pensioner was killed.

A post-mortem examination carried out on Sunday evening revealed Mrs Thompson died as a result of being strangled. She had no other injuries.

Det Supt Lang said: “This is a brutal murder that has shocked and saddened the local community.

“The person responsible for this cowardly attack on a defenceless elderly lady needs to be caught and we are doing everything we can to find him.

“The last few moments of her life must have been absolutely terrifying and I would appeal again to members of the local community to think back to Saturday night – did they see or hear anything suspicious around Emma Simpson Court?

“I am not convinced there has been a weapon there, but you can’t rule out a weapon being present.

“I would suggest bare hands were used to strangle her. I may be wrong, but by whatever means, this poor lady has been strangled.

“The motive as to why someone was in there, I wouldn’t speculate, but without doubt this evil person is trying to cover their tracks.”

A team of specialist forensic investigators have spent the past two days examining the house in Emma Simpson Court after detectives found a large quantities of soot caused by the fire was hampering their work.

Detectives are not ruling out the possibility more than one person was involved in Mrs Thompson’s death.

The cause of the fire is unknown and investigators are still trying to work out if any of Mrs Thompson’s possessions are missing from the property.

The widow was last known to be alive when her daughter, Catherine Howard, telephoned her at about 9pm on Saturday. A neighbour saw her earlier in the evening on her doorstep.

Det Supt Lang said they were determined to solve this “horrendous crime”.

“Our aim is to ensure we do absolutely the best job we can to ensure we retrieve every scrap of forensic evidence” he said.

“We have a house where not only has this person murdered, strangled an 85- year-old woman, but we also strongly believe that after that the house has been set on fire.

“Who could possibly have wanted to kill her?

This lady did not have enemies.

She was very popular in both the church circle and the local community.

“She was a real star within the small community she lived.”

He added: “We are following a number of leads, but our inquiries remain focused on Emma Simpson Court. I urge anyone who may have seen anything, however insignificant they may think it is, to come forward and contact us.”

High-visibility patrols have been stepped up in Hartburn and the area around Mrs Thompson’s house is expected to remain cordoned off for some time.

Witnesses are asked to call 01642-301615.