Antiques collector, 74, knifed to death in her home
POLICE have launched a murder inquiry after a 74-yearold charity worker was found stabbed to death at home.
Anne James, a retired health visitor, was alone when she was subject to what police said was a ‘shocking, violent’ attack.
She was found by a neighbour at around 6pm on Wednesday and pronounced dead at the scene.
Mrs James, who lived with husband Christopher, 74, in Walsall, West Midlands, was described as an ‘ angel’ who was ‘born to help’ by those she worked with. She was involved with at least three local charities helping victims of domestic violence, homeless women and those forced into prostitution. Her home was on the edge of Caldmore, which is Walsall’s red-light district.
Neighbours said Mrs James and her husband were also avid collectors of antiques, prompting speculation that she could have been killed in a botched burglary. Her family told of their devastation and paid tribute to the ‘amazing, generous and kind’ mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Police said she was attacked between late morning and 5pm and she is thought to have suffered knife injuries.
A post-mortem examination will take place to establish the exact cause of death.
Forensic investigations continued at her home yesterday while officers carried out doorto-door inquiries in the area.
Detective Superintendent Tom Chisholm, of West Midlands Police, said: ‘This appears to be a shocking, violent attack on an elderly lady in her home. Mrs James has been described as a kind and loving lady…her family are devastated and can’t understand how anyone could do her any harm.
‘We have conducted house-tohouse inquiries and are in the process of seizing local CCTV footage that will hopefully help us build up a picture of what happened yesterday around her home address. If anyone saw or heard anything suspicious, maybe someone or a vehicle that looked out of place, then I’d urge them to call my team immediately as they could hold vital information.’
Mrs James had a son, Andrew, 52, and a 53-year-old daughter, Jayne. Her family released a photograph taken at a family christening. They said: ‘We are all devastated at the loss of a loving wife, mum, grandma and great grandma.
‘She was an amazing, generous, kind, and much-loved part of our family; she will be very sadly missed.’
Residents on the street adjacent to the one where Mrs James lived spoke of their shock last night. One woman, who remembered cleaning for the victim and her husband a few years ago, said: ‘She had lots of nice things and I was always very careful not to damage anything. I knew she liked antiques and collected them with her husband. She had two grownup sons and a daughter and some grandchildren.
‘Anne worked tirelessly to help others. She was an angel really. It’s extremely sad what has happened. The police haven’t told me anything but if it is her, then she was so lovely. She and her husband had grown-up children. The houses are set back from the road and are quite secluded. It is shocking anyone would do something to a defenceless pensioner in their own home.’
Mrs James was a director of local charities from 1996 to the mid-2000s. She was listed as a director at Wolverhampton Clothesline, which helps homeless people, and The Haven Wolverhampton, which looks after vulnerable women and children. Mrs James was also a director of Walsall Youth Arts until it closed in 2011.
A former colleague, who did not want to be named, said: ‘Anne was born to help. She did what she could to offer support and advice to people, particularly vulnerable women, who needed a helping hand.
‘No one knows what has happened but if she got attacked by someone she was trying to help then that would be just awful.’
The former co-worker added: ‘I really feel for her family. She was just a wonderful person with an absolute heart of gold.’
‘Shocking, violent attack’