70-year-old found dead inside townhome

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — DeKalb County police are investigating the murder of a 70-year-old woman inside her townhome.

Police said they were asked to check on the woman when her daughter called in a welfare check because no one could reach her.

Police said when they arrived Thursday, they found the woman dead inside her home on Panthers Trace. The Medical Examiner spoke to her family, who identified the woman as Helen Davis.

Davis had been dead for possibly up to four days, according to police.

The police report says her townhome’s backdoor was unlocked and the apartment was ransacked. It describes a very gruesome crime scene. Police have asked us not to report any of those details.

“They did see it was an obvious homicide,” DeKalb County Lt. Lonzy Robertson said. “Our detectives are working on some leads. It’s just going to take a while to follow up on them.”

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Channel 2’s Liz Artz spoke to neighbors who said they saw the woman putting trash into her Jeep to take to the community dumpster last Friday.

They said they just cannot believe it happened in their neighborhood.

"It was hard to sleep last night you know knowing someone left her sitting there for days [like that],” Marro Murry said.

Charlotte Lee, who lived next door, knew Davis and was heartbroken to hear the news.

"She had a spirit that keep you coming to her. She was sweet. I'm shocked. I'm surprised,” Lee said.

Neighbors said Davis’ jeep is missing.

Police believe the killer was likely someone she knew and say they don’t believe neighbors are in any immediate danger.

“Right now, this is a singular incident against this particular victim. We have no reason to believe that there is a suspect out here burglarizing homes and murdering people,” Robertson said.

Cox Media Group