A flammable liquid was sprayed onto an 80-year-old woman before she was set on fire in broad daylight on Monday, according to Hertfordshire police.
The victim, Brenda Raymond, was walking home when the attack occurred in a communal area of her apartment building, Nettavisen reported. She sustained life-threatening injuries and remains hospitalized in critical condition, The Guardian reported.
Evidence recovered from the scene indicates that flammable liquid was also poured through the letterbox of another residence nearby. Detectives are treating the incidents as linked and are investigating the attack as attempted murder.
Raymond’s family issued a statement on Saturday describing her as a chatty and lively person who enjoys dancing to stay fit. They urged anyone with details about the assault to contact investigators.
“Our beautiful, chatty, lively and deeply loved Brenda has suffered catastrophic injuries in the most horrific of circumstances; circumstances which have left us all in complete shock,” the family said, according to a press release shared by Hertfordshire police. “We simply cannot understand why anyone would wish to harm her in this way.”
Detective Inspector Adam Bridges described the assault as an abhorrent and deeply shocking attack on an elderly woman outside her own home. Police have asked anyone with even seemingly minor details to come forward.
“This was an avowedly dreadful incident, and we are desperate for answers,” the family said, appealing for public assistance in the ongoing inquiry.”
The assault happened at approximately 12:00 PM on Monday in a communal area of an apartment building in Hertfordshire.
Worth a look