Cops: Elderly Woman Found Dead With Throat Slashed In East Mount Airy
By Suzanne Monaghan and Matt Rivers
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --Police are investigating after they say an elderly woman was found dead with her throat slashed in East Mount Airy Monday.
Philadelphia Police say the body of 85-year-old Regina Brunner was discovered inside her home along Roumfort Road.
"She's just the nicest person there is. It's surreal, I can't believe it," said a neighbor.
"She did everything that you would want an 85-year-old to do to have a full and vibrant life. So she went to the gym, she did her crossword puzzles," said neighbor Leon King.
Philadelphia Police Homicide Captain James Clark says the victim was found inside a first floor bedroom.
"It was very brutal. I mean you have an 85-year-old female that can't defend herself. She's beaten and she's stabbed multiple times and ultimately, her throat was slit," said Captain Clark.
"Detectives canvassing the area, we're knocking on doors, we're going to look to see if there's any surveillance video, but right know we don't know what we have," said Clark.
Brunner was quite active in the community. She worked two days a week as an assistant at the Chestnut Hill Local, a weekly community paper.
"We're shocked. This is not anything we would have ever thought or imagined would happen," said Chestnut Hill Local Editor Pete Mazzaccaro.
"It's a nice neighborhood. We always say lock the doors and stuff but you never think anything is going to happen. So just shocked," said a neighbor.
There was no sign of forced entry. Brunner's car is also missing. Police describe the vehicle as a 2007 silver Toyota Corolla with PA tag: PD1402X. They believe the suspect fled the scene in that car.
At this time, police say no weapons were recovered and there have been no arrests.
