A pensioner was stabbed and beaten to death in her Co Down home on Thursday on her 75th birthday, police revealed today.
The detective leading the hunt for Annie McCartan's killer described the murder scene as one of the worst he had ever encountered.
The PSNI said the killer would have been covered in blood when they left the house in the Summer Hill area of Warrenpoint on Thursday afternoon.
Mrs McCartan, who lived alone, was found in her bathroom by relatives who had called at her house with birthday presents.
Detective Superintendent Tim Hanley said he was appalled by the brutality of the murder.
He said: "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 have 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.
"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."
Det Supt Hanley confirmed that police patrols have been stepped up in the quiet residential area in a bid to reassure locals shocked by the murder.
"We would ask people to remain calm and I can assure the community we are deploying all necessary resources. Terrible crimes against vulnerable members of the community do occur and cause alarm but they are very rare."