DUNDALK, Md. — Baltimore County Police are now investigating a suspicious death after they discovered a woman dead in her home in January.
On January 31, a woman, 76-year-old Beverly Ann Bedell, of the 2800 block of Page Drive, was found inside her home by officers who were there for a welfare check.
Family members called police to check on Bedell after they were unable to reach her by phone.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has ruled the death homicide by traumatic injury and detectives are working to determine if she was targeted.
Tessa Sumwalt, who lives next door Bedell, said she and other neighbors also grew concerned after not seeing her for days.
“We thought something was wrong because every morning she opens those back blinds back there I guess to get some sunlight and my grandmother had noticed two days the blinds weren’t drawn,” Sumwalt said.
She said she’s known Bedell for six years and described her as sweet and loving.
“Very nice. Very caring lady,” Sumwalt said.
Sumwalt can’t fathom why someone would want to kill her friend.
“She had her wallet either misplaced or taken I think two or three days before the incident. That kind of makes me wonder,” she said.
She also said her car was missing at the time her body was found, but was later recovered.
At this time, police haven’t said if there was any evidence that suggests someone broke into her home.
There’s also no suspect information at this time.
“It’s terrible. It’s devastating,” said neighbor Deborah Walk. “Everybody in the neighborhood is a little nervous and we would all like to know what really happened.
Detectives from the Baltimore County Police Homicide Unit are asking anyone who may have information to contact police by calling 410-307-2020. Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward when submitting tips through Metro Crime Stoppers.
