A defenceless grandmother was battered in her home by a hooded thug in a vicious burglary in Trafford, leading to her death just weeks later – but the case remains unsolved.about:blank
The culprit is still at large as detectives launch a fresh appeal on the fourth anniversary of her death.
Her family say they have had previous years with her snatched away and that her killer must have ‘no conscience’ and ‘no morals’ if he is able to live with that level of guilt.
A £50,000 reward is still being offered for anyone who comes forward with information that leads to the conviction of the culprit with detectives launching an emotional appeal for people to come forward and ‘provide Eileen’s family with the answers they desperately need.’
Eileen Blane, 87, a mum of three, grandmother of three and who has three great-grandchildren, was attacked by an intruder who burst into her home in Stretford, at around 2:30 pm on Friday, February 3, 2017.
Eileen, described by her family as one of the most security-conscious people you could meet, had seen a window cleaner in the street and given him a friendly wave.
When there was a knock at her back door, she believed it to be him and answered. But it wasn’t. Instead, the man at the door forced his way in and Eileen’s horrific ordeal began.
He hit her on the head several times before throwing her to the floor and snatching the wedding ring from her finger.
The ring was a treasured item to her, given to her when she married her husband David, who died in 2003, and has never been found.
The robber also drop-kicked Eileen’s dog, a Jack Russell called Sammy who was barking due to the commotion, before going upstairs.
Eileen bravely managed to escape and raise the alarm with neighbours as he ransacked the rest of her home on Castleton Avenue looking for gold. He left with her ring and just £30 in cash.
Police and paramedics were called and Eileen was taken to hospital.
She was found to have suffered broken ribs, fractured vertebrae and a number of other internal injuries as well as bruises including to the face, in the attack.
She was discharged by medics eight weeks later.
However, she was sadly found dead at home by her son David on Saturday, April 1, 2017, the day after she was discharged.
A pathologist subsequently linked her death to the injuries she suffered and a murder investigation was launched.
A few weeks before her death she had described her attacker as being white, in his twenties, around 5ft 8ins tall, and of slim build. He was wearing a dark coloured jacket with the hood covering his face.