Pharmacist, 34, murdered in her home
A POPULAR pharmacist has been found murdered in her house – and local people fear she may have been killed by a stranger.
Jessica Patel, 34, ran a chemist’s shop with her pharmacist husband Mitesh, 36, serving the community seven days a week.
Mrs Patel was found with serious injuries at their large Victorian semi-detached home in Middlesbrough at 8.20pm on Monday and pronounced dead at the scene. Police launched a murder inquiry but no one has been arrested.
they have appealed to drivers for dash-cam footage taken in the street in the hope that the killer may have been caught on camera.
Cleveland Police switched the focus of the inquiry yesterday afternoon to the Roman Road Pharmacy, which the couple had been running for three years. Forensic officers were seen at the shop, which is about half a mile from their home.
Detectives have refused to release details of how Mrs Patel died or comment on lines of inquiry.
Mr Patel was said to be ‘distraught’ at his wife’s murder and was being comforted by his family in West yorkshire, where they previously lived. A family friend said: ‘the whole family is distraught. they had a love marriage. they met in university, he adored her.’ With no arrests, the murder has caused fear in the area and police have increased neighbourhood patrols.
Resident Hannah Lloyd, 30, said: ‘they were a really nice, friendly couple and they’ve become really popular in the area. It’s such a shock to discover what’s happened to her.
‘It’s also very worrying because if there has been no one arrested it means whoever did this is still at large and that’s become a real concern for people living in the area.’