Norwich murder: Pauline King named locally as victim
An elderly woman murdered in her home may have been targeted by a burglar who made off with nothing but worthless household items, police believe.
The woman, named locally as Pauline King, was found dead by police at her home in The Avenues, Norwich, about 17:30 GMT on Sunday.
A post-mortem examination found she has been sexually assaulted and subjected to a "sustained assault", police said.
A man in his 20s remains in custody to be questioned on suspicion of murder.
Det Ch Insp Paul Durham, from Norfolk Police, said they have "sufficient evidence" to suggest the woman had been targeted in a burglary.
"We have recovered some property from another address which seems to have been stolen from her home," he said.
"The house itself was dilapidated and there was little of any value - just nick-nacks like kitchen utensils which were next to worthless to anybody else."
The woman was a "reclusive hermit", who had little to do with her neighbours and would never ask for help, said Det Ch Insp Durham.
A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said he was shocked at the killing.
"I can't believe anybody targeted her," he added.
"She didn't seem like somebody who would be able to put up a fight and I can't believe there was anything worth taking inside."
The suspect, who is being held in custody at Wymondham police station, was arrested seven hours after the discovery at a property nearby.
A search, linked to the attack, is also understood to be under way at a house in nearby Kinghorn Road.