66 year old Castula Westby - the elderly woman who was stabbed 13 times inside her bedroom while sleeping 8 days ago - succumbed to her injuries on Saturday afternoon.
The stabbing incident happened on November 27 - around 3 o'clock in the morning in the Lake Independence area.
At the time of the incident Westby was at home along with her daughter and 3 grandchildren.
The attacker entered through her bedroom window located at the back of the house and began stabbing her a total of 13 times -4 to the neck, 5 to the chest area, 2 to her cheek and inside her mouth. Her tongue had to be sewn back together.
The attacker did not venture to any other part of the house and nothing was stolen from inside's Westby's room - including her jewelry which was left on top of her dresser.
So, it is now a murder investigation, and a number of suspects are being questioned - including some of her very own relatives. Police Press Officer, Fitzroy Yearwood explained:
Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
"We have upgraded that investigation to murder. Unfortunately it's an unfortunate situation. We have interviewed several persons that her grandson made mention in his account of what took place on that sad morning and we hope to interview more persons. At the end of the day we are trying our best to make arrest and bring closure to Ms. Westby's family."
Monica Bodden
"Was any family member interviewed?"
Fitzroy Yearwood
"We sure interviewed some of them and we intend to interview more. In a murder investigation everybody is a suspect until you can clear yourself and this maybe by means of an alibi statement or somebody to corroborate your alibi."
Marion Ali - Love News
"As far as his account of what happened. Do you have any corroborating what he said."
Fitzroy Yearwood
"It's so unfortunate... you know that I am tied when it comes to answer that because this is a murder investigation, it is no longer an aggravated burglary so for me to comment on that I may jeopardize that case. Bear in mind we don't know what the end of this investigation will bring if we make an arrest."
Marion Ali - Love News
"Do you have anybody detain and if so how many?"
Fitzroy Yearwood
"We have detained several persons over the past week and as recent as over this weekend. We have 3 persons in custody that we are questioning."
Monica Bodden
"Any family member?"
Fitzroy Yearwood
"I can't say whether or not. But we have persons detain that we are questioning and we hope to find a motive to this. I don't know how to describe that kind of act against a senior citizen in our country."
Marion Ali - Love News
"Street talk is that it was setup by one of her own children because they were having problems over the house."
Fitzroy Yearwood
"We are looking into that also because like you rightfully said street talks reaches back to the investigators and our investigators will rest or stop at nothing to prove who committed this act and why they did it."
Monica Bodden
"It looks like she was the target because nothing was stolen inside the house."
Fitzroy Yearwood
"Monica if someone receives in excess of 7 stabs, I believe that person was the intended target. It's not only by my belief but we have been trained to investigate and the investigators are looking into this because it's an obvious fact."
Marion Ali - Love News
"Nothing was remove right?"
Fitzroy Yearwood
"According to the family nothing was stolen from the house."
Police detained other suspects over the weekend for questioning as their investigation continues.
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