A woman has been arrested on suspcion of murder after an award-winning film director was found stabbed to death in her flat near Regent’s Park.
The body of Jennifer Abbott was discovered in her home in Mornington Place in Camden at 6pm on Friday with tape over her mouth.
Scotland Yard believe the 69-year-old could have been targeted for her diamond encrusted Rolex watch that was missing from her home.
The Met Police said a 66-year-old woman was arrested on Wednesday, 18 June on suspicion of her murder. She remained in police custody on Thursday.
A post-mortem examination, which took place on Sunday, 15 June, gave Ms Abbott’s cause of death as sharp force trauma.
The writer and director, described as “lovely” by neighbours, previously worked in the creative industries and was also known professionally as Sarah Steinberg.
Her family described her as ‘beautiful’ in a moving tribute. A card left with flowers at the scene read: “My beautiful aunty. Beautiful Jenny. We all miss you so much.”
Her social media says she spent time growing up in London, studying Arts and Science at Merton Technical College and attending Pelham High School in Wimbledon.
She later relocated to Los Angeles where pictures on her Facebook page show her rubbing shoulders with stars including Dan Ackroyd, Paris Hilton and Kate Hudson.
Ms Abbot had run a film production company and made a documentary she directed called 'Gods of War' which she said won several awards.
Officers found her with multiple stab injuries and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
She was last seen by neighbours three days earlier walking her Corgi dog Prince in the area.Lily Shanagher/PA Wire)
Neighbours said the alarm was raised shortly before she was discovered by family members who were concerned after hearing her dog barking inside Ms Abbott’s home.
A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said her son went out to help Ms Abbott's niece and the pair made the harrowing discovery. Investigators fear she may have been killed for her diamond-encrusted Rolex.
Her pet Corgi had been shut in the bathroom for three days but survived.
The neighbour said: "My son broke the door down. We heard her niece shouting: 'Somebody help me, somebody help' and we went out and asked 'what's wrong?'
"She said: 'I haven't heard from my aunty in four days. Something's wrong - break the door down'.
"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."
She said her neighbour was "mysterious, and very smart and intelligent".
"We would chat in the street most of the time. I used to walk around the block with her with her dog," she said.
"I can't believe we won't see her walking the corgi any more. She was very exuberant, very vivacious.
"She had done a lot of things in her life. She was a doctor but she was also an actor and director in America. She'd directed a movie and I looked at it on YouTube and saw her interviewed in Los Angeles.
"She was a character. She was lovely.
"You're never going to see her again and you just can't take it in. I said to my son: 'I can't believe we were sitting here in the living room, maybe watching television, while she was over there going through that and we didn't know."
Detective Inspector Barry Hart, of Homicide Command, Specialist Crime North, said: “Our deepest sympathies are with the victim’s loved ones who are being supported by specialist officers at this time.
“We thank the local community for their patience as we continue to investigate this shocking crime. This arrest marks a significant step forward. There are several lines of enquiry ongoing, and we are working hard to establish the exact circumstances of this incident.
“Locals can expect to see an increased police presence in the area while we conduct our enquires.”
If anyone witnessed the incident, or has any information that can help the investigation, please contact the police as a matter of urgency on 101 quoting 6470/13JUN.
To remain anonymous, call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org
