A 64-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a grandmother was found dead at her home in Dovecot. Emergency services were called to Ancroft Road at 12.35pm on Saturday, October 4 last year following reports that a woman had been found dead at her home.
Rose Johnston was found at her home having been assaulted and suffered a blunt force head injury. In the days that followed, a forensic tent was set up at the entrance of her terraced home, with detectives making repeated appeals for information to help solve the murder.
Second arrest in murder investigation
Extensive enquiries have taken place, Merseyside Police said, with the force arresting a 64-year-old man on Tuesday (September 8) on suspicion of murder. He remains in custody where he will be interviewed by detectives.
This is the second arrest in connection with the death of Ms Johnston after a 37-year-old was questioned in May this year. He was released on conditional bail.
Family tribute
In a tribute from her family earlier this year, they said: "The impact the loss of my mum has had is a constant source of pain for our whole family. Knowing my mum would likely have been arranging a break in a caravan to celebrate her birthday with her beloved sister or even a couple of nights in a hotel in Southport."
"Mum loved nothing more than the chance to take a walk along the beach or prom, go to the market or maybe go to one of her favourite chippies in Rhos-on-Sea. Mum would have had my cousins helping to plan and arrange a lovely day for us all, but now I won't get the opportunity to take my mum out for tea and spoil her."
"Those little things that we enjoyed as a family have been brutally snatched away from her and us. As a family we are still in a state of shock and disbelief as to why this has happened to my beautiful mum."
Detective's appeal
Detective Chief Inspector Catherine Walsh, who is leading the investigation into Rose's murder, said: "Although we have made a second arrest our enquiries remain ongoing and it is vital that anybody with information who hasn't already come forward does so as a matter of urgency."
"We need people to tell us about any suspicious activity they heard or saw around the time of Rose's murder or any CCTV, dashcam or mobile phone footage they may have or have seen which could assist with our investigation."
"Rose's family have been living without answers for over 11 months now but we remain committed to finding the person responsible for her death and bringing them to justice."
"My appeal remains with the local community to come forward and tell us what you know."
Ms Johnston was a tutor working in adult education and had more recently volunteered for the Nugent group supporting people with special education needs. Her family remembered "she didn't have very much [but] would always buy donations for the foodbank every time she did her shopping".
