Bilston murder: Community in mourning after death of nurse Lisa Skidmore

Tributes have been paid to 'caring and compassionate' nurse Lisa Skidmore who died in the shocking attack.

Devastated colleagues from New Cross Hospital paid tribute to Miss Skidmore as police appealed for more help in piecing together the events of last Thursday morning.

Police granted extra time to question suspect

Last night police arrested a 55-year-old Birmingham man at an address in Moseley on suspicion of murder.

He remains in police custody and is being questioned by detectives today.

The 37-year-old was found in a first floor bedroom of the house in Mill Croft, Bilston, by paramedics after neighbours alerted emergency services to a fire.

Her 80-year-old mother was found on the ground floor and was taken to hospital with severe injuries to her face and arms.

But following treatment, she told police officers she had disturbed an intruder, who had assaulted her and knocked her unconscious.

A post mortem carried out on Friday found Miss Skidmore died as a result of strangulation.

A spokesman for the The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust said: "Lisa worked at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust for nearly 20 years and was a valued member of the nursing team.

"She was an excellent Senior Staff Nurse. She received a Bachelors of Science with honours degree in professional nursing studies in 2007 and began working in the community based in Bilston in 2013.

"She was a kind, caring and compassionate nurse and an absolute credit to her profession. Our thoughts are with her friends and family in this tragic time."

Bouquets of flowers were left next to a police tent covering the front of Miss Skidmore's house yesterday. Messages included: "Rest in peace Lisa. Gone too soon."

Another said: "RIP Lisa – gone but will never be forgotten" and "A dedicated nurse, who will be greatly missed."

Another read: "You were an amazing nurse. The patients were very lucky to have you."

Residents told the Express & Star of their shock after being told Miss Skidmore's death was being treated as murder.

Frederick Douglas, 59, said: "I'd read that she had died in a fire – but this is a quiet area. I knew her as a quiet person. She kept herself to herself. On Thursday I got up, opened the curtains and the fire engine came."

Paramedics had battled to save Miss Skidmore, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Initially, it was thought her death was as a result of the fire, but a subsequent post mortem on Friday revealed evidence that she had actually been strangled.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police reassured the local community last night and added: "Extra patrols are currently being conducted in the area around Mill Croft and anyone with concerns should contact their local policing team."

Det Supt Mark Payne said: "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 from the house.

"Miss Skidmore was a single lady, very close to her family.

"Her mother 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 the offender either before he went into the house or afterwards in and around the Mount Pleasant area.

"This is a very complex enquiry and it has taken us some time to establish what has happened at the address.

"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 at around 10.30 on Thursday morning to contact us urgently on 101."

Anyone with information should call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.