A woman who was a foster mother to more than 50 children was murdered before her body was found in the burned remains of her home, police have revealed.
The body of Norma Bell, 79, was discovered inside the fire-ravaged house in Hartlepool, County Durham, on Sunday morning. Detectives believe she may have disturbed a burglar or confronted a confidence trickster, who then started a fire to try to cover up her murder.
Officers revealed on Tuesday that her handbag and cash to the value of hundreds of pounds was missing from her home.
Bell, a popular local figure who had three children of her own, spent more than 30 years taking in foster children and helping to bring them up with her late husband, John.
The blaze started shortly before 8.25am on Sunday and gutted a large part of the downstairs living area, where Bell’s body was found.
A postmortem examination revealed she had died of injuries suffered before the fire, police said on Monday night.
Detectives have urged families to check on elderly relatives in the area to ensure their properties are safe and secure.
DS Alastair Simpson, of Cleveland police, said: “We now know, following a postmortem examination, that Norma died prior to the fire in her home and we have launched a murder investigation. Officers are carrying out a number of lines of inquiry including house to house and CCTV inquiries.
“Whilst it is too early to say what the motive is or whether the suspect was known to Mrs Bell, I would remind anyone in the local area who may have an elderly or vulnerable relative or neighbour to check on them.
“Similarly, I would also remind people not to allow anyone into their home who is not known to them or who purports to be an official from an organisation without first checking their identification.”
Simpson urged people to contact police if they knew of someone who had “come into some money over the last couple of days and is concerned about a change in their behaviour”.
Bell had lived alone in the property since the death of her husband in 2010.
In a statement, her family said: “Our mum was a loving and caring person who lived for her family. To lose her in this manner is heartbreaking. We would urge anybody with information regarding the death of our mother to come forward and speak to police.”
