Mourning members of Perthshire pensioner Jenny Methven’s family suffered a day of torment on what would have been her 81st birthday on Thursday.
Local WRI president Jenny was killed in the home she shared with her son, David, near Forteviot, on February 20.
Mr Methven discovered his mother’s body at around 5.15pm that day on his return from work. The business owner who has been ruled out as a suspect has declined to speak to the media, but the officer leading the investigation told of his deep grief.
DCI Colin Gall said: ”It would have been Jenny’s birthday today, which will understandably be a very sombre occasion for her son David, given the events of the last couple of weeks.
”When we spoke with him, he said he had memories of celebrating his mother’s birthday last year with family and friends. The day brings back happy memories but, understandably, today will also be a difficult day for David and everyone who knew Jenny.”
Fellow Forgandenny WRI member Betty Little had known Jenny for years but was unaware of the significance of the date something typical of the way unassuming Jenny lived her life.
Betty said: ”I never knew it was her birthday. She’s not someone who would broadcast that.”
Minister the Rev Bruce Thomson said: ”It’s an absolute tragedy that this would have been her birthday. I’m visiting people in the community and everybody wants to talk about it. The longer it goes on, the more anxious people are becoming.”
As intensive investigations continue, Mr Gall added: ”There are many strands to our investigations and many people working around the clock to try to identify the person responsible for Jenny’s death.
”But I cannot stress strongly enough that someone out there knows the truth and has crucial information that could help us to achieve our goal. I would ask them to come forward. Help us to find the truth as to how an elderly woman was so brutally murdered in her own home.”
Officers still want to speak with the driver of a vehicle that Mrs Methven heard pull up to her home at about 10.30am the day she died. They also want to speak with the occupants of two white or light-coloured vehicles parked nose to tail in her drive at about 1.45pm that day.
The force can be contacted on a dedicated hotline, 01738 892925, on the non-emergency number, 0300 111 2222, or via Crimestoppers.