GUILTY UK - Linda Hood, 68, found strangled after house fire, Gorleston, Norfolk, 11 June 2021 *ARREST*

[MsMiniSleuth]

• Linda Hood was found by firefighters in a burnt-out home in Gorleston in Norfolk
• Police have launched a murder investigation and are appealing for information
• Post-mortem confirmed Ms Hood, 68, had been strangled to death before blaze

A murder investigation has been launched after firefighters discovered a woman's body in the burnt-out remains of a home.

Officers were called to the home in Gorleston, near Great Yarmouth, on Friday morning while firefighters battled the blaze.

Ms Hood was discovered inside the property and was declared dead at the scene.

The Joint Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team have launched a murder investigation and are appealing for information.

Det Insp Lewis Craske said: 'This is a tragic incident and my thoughts remain with her friends and family at this awful time.

'We continue to work alongside specialist investigators to establish the exact circumstances leading up to the fire and we are keen to speak with anyone who may be able to assist us with our enquiries.

'We would like to speak with anyone who was in the vicinity of Cherwell Way on Thursday 10 June and Friday 11 June prior to the fire, or who may know something that could help our investigation.

'We want to understand who Linda was and would like to hear from all those who knew her.

'We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have either dashcam or CCTV footage of the surrounding area.'

Police launch murder probe after pensioner, 68, found dead from 'compression of neck' after blaze | Daily Mail Online

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

Police have launched a murder investigation after a woman whose body was found after a house fire was found to have been strangled.

Officers were called just before 9.10am on Friday (June 11) to assist Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service following reports of a fire at an address in Cherwell Way, Gorleston.

A woman, aged in her 60s, was found inside the property but sadly, she was declared deceased at the scene.

Enquiries undertaken to establish the exact circumstances leading up to her death have been ongoing and have led detectives in the Joint Norfolk and Suffolk Major Investigation Team to treat her death as murder.

Murder investigation launched after woman found dead following house fire

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

A post mortem by a Home Office pathologist on Saturday concluded the pensioner - who was nicknamed Little Linda by neighbours as she was just 4ft 10in tall - died from compression to her neck.

Neighbours raised the alarm just after 9am after opening her front door and realising her home was full of smoke.

One said: “Her next door neighbour’s daughter came round to visit her mum and heard the sound of Linda’s smoke alarm going off.

“She ended up knocking on my door because I have her spare key due to her having locked herself out in the past.

“I opened the door and there was a lot of smoke. I don’t know how long the fire had been going for.

“We called the fire brigade and they told us not to go inside.

“The firefighters were here in a few minutes and sadly she was dead.”

Another neighbour, in an adjoining house, said she saw “a mist” and smelled burning in her bedroom when she woke up on Friday morning, suggesting the fire was already alight.

And one resident said: “The lady had no idea where the smell was coming from and went to check all her electrical sockets in case the burning smell was coming from one of them.”

Others paid tribute to "lovely" Linda, who "would always say hello to everyone".

“She used to have a job delivering free newspapers all over the town and carried on doing that until a couple of years ago when she had to give up because she had problems with her legs,” one local said.

“We used to see her pulling round her little shopping trolley stuffed with papers.

“Even when she had mobility problems, she would be limping along. She was such a hard worker.

“She had lived in her house for around 40 years and everyone around here knew her.

“I can’t imagine what has happened and why anyone would want to harm her. It is just awful.

“Her husband Alan died around five years and they did not have any children.”

Woman, 68, found strangled & her house on fire as cops launch murder probe

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

A woman strangled to death at her Gorleston home before a house fire was a larger than life character who used to deliver newspapers across the estate, it has emerged.

Police were called just before 9.10am on Friday (June 11) to assist firefighters following reports of a fire at an address in Cherwell Way, Gorleston.

A woman, aged in her 60s, was found inside the property but she was declared deceased at the scene.

But a murder probe has been launched after a post-mortem examination found the woman, provisionally identified as Linda Hood, 68, died as a result of compression of the neck.

Beverley Hunter, from nearby Brasenose Avenue, had known Linda for about four or five years.

She said: "She was a lovely lady. “She wouldn’t hurt a fly and would help anyone out - she would give her last pound if she could.

“She didn’t hurt anyone. She was a good neighbour and friend and she will be sorely missed.

“Everyone on the estate is devastated about how she died - it’s a tragic death."

“Someone told me what happened. I was just stunned. It’s terrible.”

The 57-year-old said Linda delivered newspapers in the area and and was “a hard worker”.

She said she got up at about 6am and “carried on until she was finished” before getting home, having a rest and then doing it all over again.

“She delivered all around the Magdalen estate. She enjoyed that and did it in all weathers."

More tributes to Gorleston murder victim Linda Hood

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I don't know whether I dreamed it, or got it mixed up with another case but when I saw the thread here I was waiting for the post that said they had arrested someone.

I was sure it was a UK case where a woman's body was found after a fire and it was a news report that I read just a few hours ago.
It must not have been the same case.

 

[HollyHunter9]

I don't know whether I dreamed it, or got it mixed up with another case but when I saw the thread here I was waiting for the post that said they had arrested someone.

I was sure it was a UK case where a woman's body was found after a fire and it was a news report that I read just a few hours ago.
It must not have been the same case.

I read this too but I think it was a different case in manchester and the person arrested was a woman.

Beverley Scott death: Woman charged with murder

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Thanks, yes I saw that one.
I may have got it mixed up with one here in Australia where an older woman's body was found after a fire and a man was arrested.

I read this too but I think it was a different case in manchester and the person arrested was a woman.

 

[HollyHunter9]

Thanks, yes I saw that one.
I may have got it mixed up with one here in Australia where an older woman's body was found after a fire and a man was arrested.

Sometimes there are just too many cases to keep up with!

My parents don't live far from this case and from what I've read online from the links above she lived alone, doesn't have any children, her husband passed away a few years ago and she used to deliver the local paper but stopped a few years ago due to health problems. The area she lived in is quite a poor area and there's been no mention of burglary. She apparently kept herself to herself so doesn't seem the type to have any enemies. Very unusual case as not many murders occur in gorleston so why was she targeted?

 

[MissUnderstood]

Hopefully she has some family who will know if anything is missing. If not a robbery then what? I guess there are lots of ways this could go! Hopefully justice is quick. Moo

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

A plea has been issued to a community to help police solve a murder case by providing them with the vital information they need.

Police were called just before 9.10am on Friday (June 11) to assist firefighters following reports of a fire at Cherwell Way, Gorleston.

Detective Chief Inspector Phill Gray said they were still in the “really early stages” of the investigation and insisted they were keeping an open mind as to what might have happened.

He said: “We’re trying to piece together a picture leading up to and after this tragic event.”

The Norfolk force has between 20 and 25 detectives and dedicated officers working on the case.

Mr Gray said the response from the public in Gorleston had been “fantastic” so far with lots of information coming in.

Everyone who had spoken to police referred to Linda as a “nice lady”.

But while officers are busy trawling through information they have so far received, Mr Gray made a further appeal to the public.

He said: “My plea is that anyone with any information, no matter how insignificant they think it might be, please come forward to give us that."

Police plea to Gorleston community over Linda Hood murder

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

Portal set up by police to submit any information on case.

Public Portal

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

The brother of a woman who was found dead at her home in Gorleston has called on the public to help police solve the mystery of who killed his "beloved sister".

Tony Green, Linda's brother, has spoken out in a bid to help police catch the killer.

He said: "I am deeply saddened to hear the awful news of how my beloved sister Linda has died, she was a kind, friendly lady who would assist in helping anyone out.

"I really want to urge for anyone who has any information to come forward and assist the police with this serious investigation”.

The plea comes just a day after detective chief inspector Phill Gray issued a similar plea to the public to help them crack the case.

Brother of Linda Hood makes plea in Gorleston murder probe

 

[Rosegold68]

Poor lady. This is horrific. Hope there’s a few clues soon

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

ARREST

A man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a woman in Gorleston.

Police were called just before 9.10am on Friday (June 11) to assist firefighters following reports of a fire at an address in Cherwell Way, Gorleston.

A man in his 50s was arrested this morning (Thursday, June 17) on suspicion of murder and arson with intent to endanger life.

He was taken to Great Yarmouth Police Investigation Centre where he remains for questioning.

Whilst enquiries are ongoing, detectives do believe the victim and the man arrested are known to each other.

Detective chief Inspector Phill Gray said: "Whilst this arrest is a significant development in our investigation, we continue to work through a number of lines of enquiry including forensics, witness statements and CCTV."

Police make arrest after murder of Linda Hood in Gorleston

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

Highlighted from above


Whilst enquiries are ongoing, detectives do believe the victim and the man arrested are known to each other.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I wonder if it's a neighbour.

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

I wonder if it's a neighbour.

Or 'other', which of course cannot be stated here until the suspect is charged.

But in under a week to have arrested someone is likely to be from witness sightings or other information that has come forward, perhaps of previous argument between the two or something LH had told a friend.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

First pic of woman, 68, strangled to death after her house was set on fire

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

I wonder if the suspect has been charged yet? Must be 36 hours at least now, or not far off, since arrest.

 

[HollyHunter9]

I wonder if the suspect has been charged yet? Must be 36 hours at least now, or not far off, since arrest.

Has a name or any other info been released about the person arrested?