The death of a woman in north London could be linked to her missing diamond-encrusted Rolex watch, murder detectives believe.
Jennifer Abbott, 69, was pronounced dead after being found with stab injuries at her home in Mornington Place, Camden, on Friday 13 June.
The Metropolitan Police said the victim, who was known professionally as Sarah Steinberg, was popular in the area, which is close to Regent’s Park.
She was last seen by neighbours walking her Corgi dog on Tuesday 10 June, three days before police were called by an ambulance crew.
Detectives said they were keeping an open mind about a possible motive for her killing.
But they are appealing for information about a Rolex watch, with a “distinctive” diamond-encrusted face, which is missing from her home.
A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said her son went out to help Ms Abbott’s niece and the pair discovered her body.
She described Ms Abbott as “very exuberant, very vivacious,” and “a character”.
“My son broke the door down,” she said. “I was holding the door open downstairs and my son was upstairs and then I heard her niece screaming and saying: ‘Oh my God, she’s been murdered’. She had tape across her mouth.
“Her Corgi was locked in the bathroom for three days. That poor dog, he couldn’t even drink any water, it’s amazing he was even still alive.”
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A post-mortem gave the cause of death as sharp force trauma.
No arrests have been made.
Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart said officers were working with homicide detectives to find out what happened.
“It’s incredibly important that we hear from anyone who may have knowledge about how this awful death occurred,” he said in an appeal for witnesses.
“Were you out in Camden on Friday? Perhaps you had been coming home from work, or at an event nearby? Did you see or hear anything around Mornington Place that struck you as being unusual?
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Chief Supt Stewart added: “Someone must have seen or heard something and no piece of information is too small. It could be the crucial clue that leads us to identify Jennifer’s murderer.
“Extra patrols continue in the area while my officers remain at the crime scene. I would urge anyone who has any information, or who may be worried, to speak to them.”
