Police issue update after woman, 90, found dead as murder arrests made

Police have issued an update after two people were arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a woman.

Merseyside Police were called to Bolde Way in Spital just after 11.20am on Tuesday, April 23. The North West Ambulance Service alerted officers after the body of a woman, aged 90, was found in a house. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The woman was named on Wednesday by police as Myra Thompson. A 48-year-old man and a 51-year-old woman, both from the Wirral area, were arrested on suspicion of murder.

READ MORE: Terror seeps through community as woman, 90, dead and murder arrests made

READ MORE: Police officer injured after crash with Mercedes on way to 999 call

In an update today, Thursday, April 25, a spokesperson for Merseyside Police said the two people arrested remain in custody. They added high visibility patrols and a mobile police station remain in the area to "offer reassurance to local residents".

The spokesperson said "anyone who has any concerns or questions" is encouraged to speak with officers. Wirral neighbourhood chief inspector Dave Morgan said the investigation was "moving at a fast pace" and detectives were examining a number of lines of enquiry.

He said: “Thankfully incidents such as this are exceptionally rare but we understand how frightening and upsetting it must be for people living in the local community and, in particular, for the elderly or those who are living alone.

“Our investigation is moving at a fast pace and we have made two arrests. We are currently examining a number of lines of enquiry as well as examining CCTV, doorbell camera footage and speaking to potential witnesses.

“Our officers have also been out and about on the streets in the local area speaking to local residents, offering reassurance and answering any questions they have. I would encourage anyone with concerns to speak to the officers.

“We are grateful for the community’s support as we carry out our enquiries, but we are continuing to ask anyone who hasn’t already spoken to us who believes they have information which could assist the investigation to contact @MerPolCC on Twitter or ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ on Facebook or call 101 with reference 24000365898.

"You can also call Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111, or use their online form at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously.”

Close neighbours of Myra Thompson, Valerie Morgan, 80 and Elfed Morgan, 81 described the 90-year-old as a "well respected member of the community".

Valerie told the ECHO: ''She was a very nice person, she was quiet and kept herself to herself. She wasn't out and about very much but the chap next door took her shopping often.''

The ECHO was told how Myra was a senior physicist at Clatterbridge Hospital before she retired. Her neighbour recalled how she used to ''walk to the hospital every morning.'' With one neighbour referring to her as a "career woman" and ''intellectually superior'' to anyone else who lived in the area.

Elfed and Valerie moved into their Spital home 50 years ago and they had known Myra for as long as they can remember. Myra had lived in the area for a long time and was known as a "character" by her friends.

Valerie reflected on her memories she had of Myra and spoke of her caring nature. She said: "Myra was married but her husband, Charlie, died some years ago. He was a naval officer and was involved in a crash that left him disabled and she looked after him.''

Elfed recalled how she ''always had a smile on her face, no matter what.'' The tragic events have hit the community hard and he said he always pictured her as a "fit, little lady who loved to walk her dog", though he said she had started to look "frail'' recently.

Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the Echo Daily newsletter here