POLICE are investigating the suspicious death of a pensioner which has left a "devastated" family searching for answers.
Kathleen Millward's body was found at her home in Stonehouse, South Lanarkshire, on January 3. She had suffered multiple unexplained injuries.
The 87-year-old grandmother had spoken to her family in the early afternoon that day, but was discovered by a relative at around 8.30pm after she failed to answer further calls.
Detectives, who have refused to reveal exactly what her injuries were, yesterday said they do not believe her bungalow in the town's Brodie Place was broken into.
Detective Superintendent Robbie Allan said: "The family are absolutely devastated, particularly given the time of year.
"Mrs Millward has two daughters and a son and is also a grandmother and she was very much involved in her family.
"Obviously the family is looking for answers as to how their mother came by these injuries and died and I have given them assurances that we will do everything we can to find out what happened.
"We do have a very complex set of circumstances in relation to what we found there and the injuries sustained and we are trying to piece together the last movements of Mrs Millward and exactly how she came by these injuries."
Mrs Millward's death has shocked local residents in the small town and the quiet cul-de-sac where she lived.
Neighbour Nicol Jardine said: "Kathleen was a very private person, very mannerly. Just a nice lady, a nice person to speak to.
"She was an ailing lady though, she had her ups and downs but she was always on her feet. She didn't get out much but she always gave me a wave at the conservatory and would always thank me for cutting the grass.
"We weren't here when it happened and it was a shock when we found out."
Another neighbour, Fred Wardlaw, 72, added: "We knew it was something serious when the police stayed outside the house for days.
"It's really sad, we can't quite believe it. It must be horrible for her family. This is a really quiet area and you don't expect something like this to happen."
Mrs Millward's grandson was staying with her at the time of the incident and police said he was "there or there about" at the time her body was discovered.
Detective Allan said various family members had also regularly visited the grandmother, who lost her husband Bob two years ago, in the days leading up to her death.
He said: "When she was found, tragically she had a number of injuries, the details of which I won't go into. But what these injuries do is give rise to suspicion.
"What we are now doing, and have been doing since that day, is investigating how she came by these injuries."
l Detectives are also appealing for information in the murder of 30-year-old Alan Kopp who was stabbed to death in the Hillhouse area of Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, on Monday. Mr Kopp suffered multiple stab wounds and was taken to Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride but died a short time later.
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