Jane Hings (pictured) was discovered by a carer on Sunday morning
A spinster found dead in her bungalow following an apparent botched burglary had previously upset neighbours at her former home in the village, it is claimed.
Jane Hings, 72, was discovered by a carer on Sunday morning.
Police initially said her death was unexplained after a post-mortem examination proved inconclusive, but began a murder inquiry after finding signs of a disturbance at her home in Fleckney, near Leicester.
A car was seen speeding away from her home late on Saturday night, smashing into other vehicles in the street as the driver made a getaway.
A 25-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder remains in police custody. Sharon Herbert, a friend of Miss Hings, said she was ‘lovely’ and ‘did not have any enemies as far as I know’.
Neighbour Rami Al-Kubati described her as ‘kind and nice’.
But a former neighbour claimed the spinster had upset residents in a part of the village where she used to live.
The woman, who did not want to be named, said: ‘I was her neighbour for many years and as much as I have a soft spot for her, she stole from me and another neighbour, her parents, and others. She upset a lot of people in her lifetime.
‘She stole my food, jewellery, money. I never pursued it because I don’t think she had much money. Her mental health issues meant she couldn’t work.
‘Despite the stealing she had a rough life with her parents and tried to fit in. She was fun, brilliant in a crisis and helped me when I was down.’
A former neighbour claimed the spinster had upset residents in a part of the village where she used to live (pictured: the scene in Fleckney, near Leicester)
Police initially said her death was unexplained after a post-mortem examination proved inconclusive, but began a murder inquiry after finding signs of a disturbance at her home
She added: ‘It is very sad. She wasn’t a meek lady and would have tried to stand her ground if it was a robbery.’
Miss Hings lived alone in a cul-de-sac and is said to have had little in the way of possessions.
Friends said she had travelled the world and lived in Holland before returning to care for her parents, who had dementia, before they died.
She was an only child and never married. Neighbours said she was a church-goer and a private person.
Leicestershire Police have urged anyone who may have information about the murder to contact them.
A 25-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder remains in police custody