Teenagers bailed amid murder probe over 82-year-old woman’s death

The pair, aged 14 and 15 and both from the Lowestoft area, were being held by police following the death of 82-year-old Joy Middleditch, who lived in Pakefield, Suffolk.

Ms Middleditch was found lying on the floor of her end-of-terrace bungalow in Grayson Avenue by concerned family members on Saturday, and police were called just after 1.50pm.

Her handbag had been taken and was recovered a short distance away in Nelson Road.

On Saturday, officers were granted an extension to detain the boys for questioning, Suffolk Police said.

By the evening the pair were released on bail, pending further inquiries to answer on June 7 2023.

Ms Middleditch told her relatives, and later police officers, she had heard a noise at the door before two masked men forced their way in and knocked her to the ground.

Police said it is thought she was attacked between the evening of Friday March 24 and the early hours of Saturday March 25.

The pensioner was found conscious and breathing but was in a serious condition and was taken to the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston, Norfolk.

She died there in the early hours of Monday.

A Home Office post-mortem examination was carried out on Monday but the cause of death is yet to be confirmed, pending further investigation, the force said.

Ms Middleditch’s family said in an earlier statement released through police: “Joy was a strong, determined character who loved life and her dog.

“She was a loving person who was sadly taken from us too soon.”

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the major investigation team by emailing MITincident.room@suffolk.police.uk or by calling 101 quoting the reference 37/17537/23.

People can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.