Neighbours and friends have paid tribute to a Sutton grandmother found dead in her home on Tuesday, while murder squad detectives continue their hunt for a killer.

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 mother-of-two Lucy, 34, who shares the house with her mother, on the kitchen floor.


Police have cordoned off South Way, Carshalton Beeches


The former teaching assistant had injuries to her neck and is believed to have been strangled, police sources said.

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

Detectives said last night they are pursuing a number of lines of inquiry but there was no indication of any burglary.

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

Neighbour Patricia Dignell said: “Terence and Maureen were wonderful people. When we first moved to the area three years ago, Maureen came over and offered us in for a cup of coffee. They were always very friendly.

“She was a great lady.

"I could leave my children with her at the drop of a hat and she would take them.

"She was very nurturing. After Terence died two years ago in June, Maureen really threw her herself into looking after her grandchildren.

"She really cared for them, I think it helped her get over the loss. Maureen never spoke about Terence’s suicide.

“Maureen used to take the grandchildren on the school run.”

Maureen had four children sons Matthew, 36, John, 43, and daughters Carolyn, 41, and Lucy.

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

A tearful family friend said: “It’s a tragic loss following the death of the father 20 months ago.

"Maureen and Terrance were both wonderful community people.

"It is a terribly tricky situation, it is a complicated family.

"After suffering the loss the of the father, this will be heart wrenching for them.

“They were both a real part of the community, and it is going to be horrible without them.”

One woman, who did not want to be named, said: "It's very sad. It was just an ordinary day and then something like this, it's quite surreal."

Another 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 neighbour said: “You wouldn’t expect it here.

"It is a really family friendly place.

"There are always children walking up and down the road to and from school.

"It’s horrible to think this happened only yards away. If I’m in the house, I leave my back door open, I wouldn’t think twice about it.”

Seaton House school chairman of 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."

A spokeswoman at St Philomenas Catholic School for Girls in Carshalton, which caters for about 1187 girls aged between 11 and 18 years, said Mrs Cosgrove worked at the school for a number of years as a member of the support staff.

She said: "Mrs Cosgrove worked here for a number of years although a lot of years have passed since then.

"The staff who knew her are deeply saddened to learn of her death."

The Cosgrove family were active in hospital radio charity Radio Lollipop.

Chairman of Radio Lollipop's Hedley Finn said Mr Cosgrove worked as a volunteer treasurer for the charity about 15 years ago for about 10 years.

He said at the same time Mr Cosgrove's son John also worked in a more "hands-on" role at the then Queen Mary's Hospital for Children in Carshalton.

Mr Finn said: "They were a close family and lived close to the hospital, offering great support in the charity's formative years.

"They were social people, although I never really go to know Mrs Cosgrove.

"Our thoughts and condolences go out to the family at this sad time."

Mr Cosgrove, who is understood to have hanged himself in a park, was an honorary member of the Sutton and Cheam branch of the Round Table organisation before his death.

A post mortem is expected to be carried out today at St Helier’s hospital.

Police ask anyone with information to contact 020 8721 4205.

• Do you know Mrs Cosgrove? Let us know by email, phone the newsroom on 020 8330 9554 or leave your tribute below.