Renewed appeal in Luton murder investigation after woman found dead
Beata Szauer was found dead in her home with a stab wound
Bedfordshire Police is renewing its appeal into a murder investigation six months after a woman was found dead at her home in Luton.
Detectives investigating the death of Beata Szauer, a 46-year-old Polish mother of two, say she was found dead in her home on Brook Street on 7th January.
A forensic post-mortem examination suggests her death was caused by a stab wound.
Although police say, “we don't believe we've got the weapon that was used to cause that injury. So that may still be outstanding.”
The last known CCTV footage shows Beata alive on 21st December, and investigators think she may have died shortly after.
Information sought
Detective Chief Inspector Sam Khanna from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit said: “We know very little about her.
“We know that she had, in the past, worked as a hairdresser, but who her friendship network were in and around Luton remains a bit of a mystery.”
He adds: “There are people out there who knew and socialised with Beata, that we have not been able to identify and would be keen to hear from."
Detectives are appealing for friends or anyone who knew Beata to come forward to assist in piecing together details about her life - particularly from those who frequented places she visited, such as Polski Smak and Sainsbury’s stores on Crawley Road, or anyone who was her hair client.
Potential witnesses
Investigators also say there is a “lack of witnesses” and are asking anyone with information, no matter how minor it may seem, to come forward.
DCI Khanna said: “We don't know what would have led someone to want to harm her that night, had something happen to her during the day involving other persons.
“We believe there will be people in the community that know the answer to that and that's why we're appealing for them to come forward.”
Ongoing investigation
Police have arrested two men in their 50s on suspicion of murder, and they are currently on bail as investigations continue.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the police via their web chat service at www.beds.police.uk , or by calling 101 and quoting the reference Operation Elyen.
Information can also be shared anonymously with Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.