Bilston murder: Daughter strangled to death and mum severely injured by intruder who set fire to house
Police have launched a murder investigation after a woman was found strangled to death after a house fire in Wolverhampton.
Lisa Skidmore, 37, was found in a first floor bedroom by emergency services, but despite the best efforts of paramedics, nothing could be done to save her and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Neighbours alerted emergency services to the fire at the property on Mill Croft just after 10.30am on Thursday, where the 80-year-old mother of Miss Skidmore was found on the ground floor.
Her mother was taken to hospital with severe facial injuries and was eventually able to tell officers that she had disturbed an intruder at the address, who assaulted her before she passed out.
A post mortem examination carried out yesterday has revealed that Miss Skidmore died as a result of strangulation.
Detective Superintendent Mark Payne, from force CID, said: "This is a very complex enquiry and it has taken us some time to establish what has happened at the address.
"We believe that the offender assaulted Miss Skidmore before setting fire to the bedroom. He was then disturbed by Lisa's mother and assaulted her before making his escape.
"We have a team of detectives working around the clock to trace the person responsible so I would urge anyone who saw someone acting suspiciously around the property on Thursday morning to contact us urgently on 101."
The offender is described as a dark skinned black man in his 20s, around 5ft 6ins tall with a medium build and afro hair. He was wearing a dark coloured long sleeved jacket, dark trousers and black thick leather gloves.
On Lisa's 80-year-old mother Det Supt Mark Payne added: "She has been treated in hospital. She has been able to provide us with an account of what happened and she is now being looked after in hospital.
"What we really need is the help of local people. Somebody may have seen this man either before he went into the house or afterwards."
The offender is described as a dark skinned black man in his 20s, around 5ft 6ins tall with a medium build and afro hair. He was wearing a dark coloured long sleeved jacket, dark trousers and black thick leather gloves.
Extra patrols are currently being conducted in the area around Mill Croft and anyone with concerns should contact their local policing team.
