A pensioner was stabbed and beaten to death in her Co Down home on her 75th birthday, the PSNI said yesterday.
The detective in charge of the investigation into Annie McCartan's killing described the murder scene as one of the worst he had ever encountered.
The PSNI said the suspect would have been covered in blood after the attack in the Summer Hill area of Warrenpoint on Thursday afternoon.
Ms McCartan, who lived alone, was found in her bathroom by relatives who had called at her house with birthday presents.
Det Supt Tim Hanley said he was appalled by the brutality of the murder. "It was a particularly horrific attack. Mrs McCartan was repeatedly stabbed and given a severe beating. The person who carried this out, bearing in mind it happened at 3pm, would have been covered in blood."
Det Supt Hanley said his officers had yet to establish a motive for the killing. He was also unable to confirm if there were any signs of forced entry or if anything had been stolen from the house.
He said: "I have been a police officer for 19 years and it must be one of the worst murder scenes I have ever encountered. It really was bad. The person who carried this out is an exceptionally dangerous individual."
Ms McCartan had 13 children and was widowed some 20 years ago.
Local Catholic priest Canon John Kearney said the whole community was stunned by her death.
"There is a great sense of sadness, shock and disbelief that a very quiet, simple woman should have been hurt in this way. The community is just numbed by it all."
Arrangements for the pensioner's funeral have yet to be finalised as a number of her children live overseas.
Canon Kearney said Ms McCartan was a very gentle, unassuming woman whose sole interest in life was her family.