A woman found dead inside a Liverpool flat was found on a couch in her living room by worried neighbours who went to check on her safety,
The 58-year-old was discovered in an upper floor flat on Belmont Road in Anfield on Wednesday evening, sparking an emergency response.
It is feared the woman may have been dead for a number of days.
On Wednesday evening, a near neighbour heard a comment made by a man that the 58-year-old "didn't have long left," immediately triggering her concern.
She persuaded her sister to venture inside the flat to check on their friend, who was found dead inside.
A post mortem examination is set to be carried out to establish the cause of death.
It is believed the woman did not live alone.
Five arrests have been made, four of them on suspicion of murder.
Pictures have emerged which appear to show one of the suspects being arrested last night.
Shocked neighbours today said the victim was a "nice woman" who was vulnerable and struggled with some mental health difficulties.
Residents said some of the flats on that particular stretch of Belmont Road had been plagued for some time by drug-taking and anti-social behaviour.
Detectives have arrested four people on suspicion of murder.
They are a 33-year-old man from Anfield, a 22-year-old man from Anfield, a 30-year-old man from Liverpool, and a 29-year-old woman from Fairfield.
A 44-year-old man from Anfield was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
They are being held in custody and will be quizzed by police officers.
Forensics officers dressed in white suits were seen entering the property to comb the scene and gather evidence about the tragedy.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Speight, of Merseyside Police, said: “We are in the very early stages of an investigation, and would appeal to anyone who has any information at all to come forward in confidence.
“House-to-house, forensic and CCTV enquiries are ongoing and I would appeal to anyone with any information to please come forward. If you have seen or heard any suspicious behaviour in the Belmont Road area recently, please get in touch.”
Anyone with information can contact @MerPolCC on Twitter or ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook quoting reference 21000305792 or through 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
