Murder squad detectives are hunting for a killer after the body of a grandmother was found in her Carshalton Beeches home yesterday afternoon.

The body of the 65-year-old woman, named locally as Maureen Cosgrove, was discovered by her daughter Lucy in her £700,000 four-bedroom house in South Way, Carshalton Beeches.

Mrs Cosgrove, whose financial consultant husband Terence killed himself two years ago, was found by her daughter Lucy on the kitchen floor.


Police have cordoned off South Way, Carshalton Beeches


She had injuries to her neck and is believed to have been strangled, police sources said.

Paramedics were called to the address at 2.30pm yesterday and immediately called the police after they discovered Mrs Cosgrove was dead.

Neighbours said Mrs Cosgrove, who helped out at nearby Seaton House School was a popular figure in the local community and devoted herself to her two grandchildren after her husband’s death.

Seaton House School chairman of the governors Fintan O'Toole said: "Miss Cosgrove and her husband had a long-standing connection with Seaton House as parents and grandparents and they were fully involved in the school life as Mr Cosgrove was a bursar for a period of time and Mrs Cosgrove helped with the finances.

"Our thoughts are with the family at this sad time."

Mr Cosgrove was a former director of hospital radio charity Radio Lollipop which includes among its directors former Radio 1 DJ Peter Powell.

Families returning from work to their detached homes on the quiet street were shocked to learn of the death.

Police taped off that the scene and moved up and down the street knocking on neightbours' doors and breaking the news to families.

A tearful family friend said: “It’s a tragic loss following the death of the father 20 months ago. "They were close friends of ours really good community people. We are all shocked.”

One woman, who did not want to be named, said: "It's very sad. I just came home to see the homes taped off and the police cars standing outside.

"It was just an ordinary day and then something like this, it's quite surreal."

One neighbour said: “I was gardening this afternoon when I came outside and I saw all the police. "It’s a real shock I never expected anything like this in an area like this.”

Another man, who did not want to be named, said: "They seemed like a nice family."

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