A pensioner who died after being tied up in her bedroom during a robbery may have lain undiscovered for more than five weeks.

Eveline Kelmenson, 83, was found dead with her legs bound with duct tape but no obvious injuries on New Year’s Day. A post mortem has indicated that she may have died from hypothermia after she was trapped in her home in Stamford Hill, east London.

Detectives, who are waiting the results of more tests, have appealed for anyone who saw Ms Kelmenson since November 24 to come forward.

Detective Chief Inspector Caroline Goode, who is leading the murder inquiry, said officers were still trying to trace the last movements of the spinster, who was known as Lina.

She lived alone in the house after looking after her late brothers and sisters.

Ms Goode said today: “From our inquiries, the picture we now have of Lina is that she was a fiercely independent lady, who had dedicated herself to looking after her late brothers and sisters, who had all lived with her at the house.

“Lina is spoken of in warm terms by those who knew her. She was an upbeat person who was always smiling.”

A murder investigation was launched after police discovered Ms Kelmenson’s body at her home after a relative raised concerns.

A search of the three-storey property had been made and officers continue to try to identify what was stolen. They said that there had been an “untidy search of the house that appeared theft related”.

It has emerged the pensioner warned one neighbour a week before her death that she was being pursued for cash.

Ms Kelmenson, who never married, lived at the property for most of her life.

She lived alone since 2007 following the death of her sister.

Police have also reviewed their investigation into an incident last year when the pensioner was targeted by thieves posing as gardeners.

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