Woman found stabbed with tape over her mouth may have been killed for her Rolex
Jennifer Abbott, also known as Sarah Steinberg, was last seen walking her pet corgi in Camden, north London, on June 10. She was found fatally injured three days later.
An ambulance crew was called to her home in Mornington Place, Camden, at around 6pm on June 13 and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said her son went out to help Ms Abbott's niece and the pair made the harrowing discovery. Investigators fear she may have been killed for her diamond-encrusted Rolex.
Her pet Corgi had been shut in the bathroom for three days but survived.
The neighbour said: 'My son broke the door down. We heard her niece shouting: 'Somebody help me, somebody help' and we went out and asked 'what's wrong?'
'She said: 'I haven't heard from my aunty in four days. Something's wrong – break the door down'.
'I was holding the door open downstairs and my son was upstairs and then I heard her niece screaming and saying: 'Oh my God, she's been murdered'. She had tape across her mouth.
'Her corgi was locked in the bathroom for three days. That poor dog, he couldn't even drink any water, it's amazing he was even still alive.'
She said her neighbour was 'mysterious, and very smart and intelligent'.
'We would chat in the street most of the time. I used to walk around the block with her with her dog,' she said.
'I can't believe we won't see her walking the corgi any more. She was very exuberant, very vivacious.
'She had done a lot of things in her life. She was a doctor but she was also an actor and director in America. She'd directed a movie and I looked at it on YouTube and saw her interviewed in Los Angeles.
'She was a character. She was lovely.
'You're never going to see her again and you just can't take it in. I said to my son: 'I can't believe we were sitting here in the living room, maybe watching television, while she was over there going through that and we didn't know.'
The neighbour said that drug users sit in doorways in the area including near Ms Abbott's flat.
Another woman living nearby described Ms Abbott as 'a woman of taste', while William Currie, 63, a hairdresser, said: 'I just used to see her walking around with her little corgi.
'We just said hello, waved to each other and smiled.
'She used to walk the dog every couple of days. She kept herself to herself, she wasn't too sociable but kind, polite and well-mannered.
'The dog was fat and chubby and barked a lot.'
Police said a post-mortem examination was carried out on Sunday and gave cause of death as sharp force trauma.
Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart said: 'We are working closely with our colleagues in the homicide team to establish exactly what happened and it's incredibly important that we hear from anyone who may have knowledge about how this awful death occurred.
'Were you out in Camden on Friday?
'Perhaps you had been coming home from work, or at an event nearby?
'Did you see or hear anything around Mornington Place that struck you as being unusual?
'Someone must have seen or heard something and no piece of information is too small.
'It could be the crucial clue that leads us to identify Jennifer's murderer.
'Extra patrols continue in the area while my officers remain at the crime scene.
'I would urge anyone who has any information, or who may be worried, to speak to them.'
Anyone with information can call police on 101 or message @MetCC on X, giving the reference 6470/13JUN.
To remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or online.
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Daily Mail
22 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Pals say award-winning film director, 69, who 'was killed for her Rolex' had 'lost everything after moving from Beverly Hills': Manhunt for murderer continues
An award-winning film director who was stabbed to death in her home in London had moved to the capital after 'losing everything' from her life as a 'movie star'. Jennifer Abbott, 69, was stabbed to death in her council flat in Camden on Friday just days after she was last seen by neighbours walking her pet Corgi Prince. She was discovered wrapped in a blanket with tape over her mouth by her niece and neighbours, who broke into her home after growing concerned for her welfare, pals said. The Metropolitan Police are now hunting for her killer, who is believed to have made off with her diamond-encrusted Rolex after it went missing from her address. Locals told MailOnline Ms Abbott, known professionally as Sarah Steinberg, had lived at the address for over 10 years, having moved over from the US where she would often rub shoulders with A-list celebrities. Pictures from her social media profiles show her cosying up to Hollywood stars including Paris Hilton, Kate Hudson and Dan Ackroyd, while she also won an award for writing and directing a documentary about war. Her next door neighbour Laura, 34, said: 'She was a movie star. She was in a couple of movies. She used to live in Beverly Hills. 'She said she came over here and lost everything. Everything was stolen off of her.' 'I live right next door to her. She was a friend of mine. I used to walk her dog when she was sick,' the hairdresser added. 'I wasn't here - I was at my boyfriend's when it happened. 'I am literally gobsmacked. Who would do that to someone? 'If I was there I maybe could have done something.' Forensics officers were seen carrying several bags of miscellaneous items from the victim's flat on Wednesday evening. Police officers were also spotted clearing an area next to the block of flats of branches and leaves. Neighbour Billie Currie, 63, said he had heard a dog barking for most of the night days before Ms Abbott's body was found. Mr Currie told MailOnline: 'She was always walking the dog and was really nice. She was quite reserved but very friendly.' Another neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said she heard screaming from Ms Abbott's niece while she was trying to gain entry to her flat. Her son then grabbed a metal pole to bash down the door before making the grim discovery. Ms Abbott's Corgi Prince was found locked in the bathroom after miraculously surviving on its own for up to three days. The neighbour added: 'I heard the girls banging on the door and heard her shouting "help, help". 'She was a vibrant, spritely, and intelligent person. We would talk about a lot of things - politics, current affairs, her likes and dislikes, we knew what each other liked.' She told about Ms Abbott's colourful career where she has been a doctor, and was even involved in the film industry where she directed the movie War of the Gods. 'She got interviewed in LA about this movie,' she said. 'She was known as Jenny or Janet and was quite mysterious.' Forensics officers were seen carrying several bags of miscellaneous items from the victim's flat on Wednesday evening. But heartbreakingly, the neighbour revealed Ms Abbott is thought have recently been diagnosed with stomach cancer. Another neighbour said the area had recently had issues with homeless people breaking down their doors. He said: 'I think she had an operation and it went wrong or something and they had taken out a part of her intestines. 'There used to be a lot of homeless, breaking in doors, sleeping inside, going to the toilet. 'Before it was all the time. Community police would come all the time. But not much anymore.' Another friend said Ms Abbott had recently spoken and broken down in tears saying she was too scared to go to sleep. She added: 'I remember her saying to me that once she had tried coming out of the flat and couldn't get out because of all the druggies out there. 'It was a dark day when that happened. It's not about me, I feel for her and her son and her niece who had to see her like that. 'I can't believe I'm not going to see her again. 'We will miss her running around. I mean she was indoors a lot but she made herself known. She'd talk to everyone. 'Her niece said she had a lot of jewellery so the police need to check if anything else is missing. 'To put the dog in the bathroom and then shut her up by putting the tape across her mouth and then they ransacked her house. 'I'm not surprised she had a Rolex. She was a woman of taste who liked to have a lot of nice things.' The Met police are urging any witnesses to come forward with information that could help identify the attacker and the events leading up to her death. Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart, who leads policing in Camden, said: 'We are working closely with our colleagues in the homicide team to establish exactly what happened and it's incredibly important that we hear from anyone who may have knowledge about how this awful death occurred. 'Were you out in Camden on Friday? Perhaps you had been coming home from work, or at an event nearby? Did you see or hear anything around Mornington Place that struck you as being unusual? 'Someone must have seen or heard something and no piece of information is too small. It could be the crucial clue that leads us to identify Jennifer's murderer. 'Extra patrols continue in the area while my officers remain at the crime scene. I would urge anyone who has any information, or who may be worried, to speak to them.'
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
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'Rolex killers' locked woman's dog in toilet for 72 hours as she lay dead nearby
Jennifer Abbott, 69, was discovered wrapped in a blanket three days after she was last seen alive close to her home near London Zoo in Camden, north London. A film director who was gagged and stabbed to death in her own home may have been targeted for her diamond-encrusted Rolex watch, police believe. Jennifer Abbott, 69, was discovered wrapped in a blanket three days after she was last seen alive close to her home near London Zoo in Camden, north London. Her Corgi dog survived after being locked in a toilet for 72 hours as Ms Abbott lay dead nearby, neighbours said. Her Facebook page says she grew up in Wimbledon, south London before moving to Los Angeles where pictures show her with stars including Dan Ackroyd, Paris Hilton and Kate Hudson. She had run a film production company and made a documentary she directed called 'Gods of War' which she said won several awards. Also known as Sarah Steinberg, she was last seen walking her pet corgi on June 10. She was found dead on Friday after neighbours kicked her door down. An ambulance crew was called to Mornington Place, at around 6pm on June 13 and she was pronounced dead at the scene. A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said her son went out to help Ms Abbott's niece and the pair made the harrowing discovery. Detectives fear she may have been killed for her diamond-encrusted Rolex. The neighbour said: 'My son broke the door down. We heard her niece shouting: 'Somebody help me, somebody help' and we went out and asked 'what's wrong?' She said: 'I haven't heard from my aunty in four days. Something's wrong - break the door down.' 'I was holding the door open downstairs and my son was upstairs and then I heard her niece screaming and saying: 'Oh my God, she's been murdered'. She had tape across her mouth. Her corgi was locked in the bathroom for three days. "That poor dog, he couldn't even drink any water, it's amazing he was even still alive.' She said her neighbour was 'mysterious, and very smart and intelligent'. 'We would chat in the street most of the time. I used to walk around the block with her with her dog,' she said. 'I can't believe we won't see her walking the corgi any more. She was very exuberant, very vivacious. 'She had done a lot of things in her life. She was a doctor but she was also an actor and director in America. She'd directed a movie and I looked at it on YouTube and saw her interviewed in Los Angeles. She was a character. She was lovely. 'You're never going to see her again and you just can't take it in. I said to my son: 'I can't believe we were sitting here in the living room, maybe watching television, while she was over there going through that and we didn't know.' The neighbour said that drug users sit in doorways in the area including near Ms Abbott's flat. Another woman living nearby described Ms Abbott as 'a woman of taste', while William Currie, 63, a hairdresser, said: 'I just used to see her walking around with her little corgi. We just said hello, waved to each other and smiled. 'She used to walk the dog every couple of days. She kept herself to herself, she wasn't too sociable but kind, polite and well-mannered. The dog was fat and chubby and barked a lot.' Police said a post-mortem examination was carried out on Sunday and gave the cause of death as sharp force trauma. Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart said: 'We are working closely with our colleagues in the homicide team to establish exactly what happened and it's incredibly important that we hear from anyone who may have knowledge about how this awful death occurred. Were you out in Camden on Friday? 'Perhaps you had been coming home from work, or at an event nearby? Did you see or hear anything around Mornington Place that struck you as being unusual? "Someone must have seen or heard something and no piece of information is too small. It could be the crucial clue that leads us to identify Jennifer's murderer. "Extra patrols continue in the area while my officers remain at the crime scene. I would urge anyone who has any information, or who may be worried, to speak to them.' Anyone with information can call police on 101 or message MetCC on X, giving the reference 6470/13JUN. To remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or online.
Powys County Times
4 hours ago
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Woman found stabbed with tape over her mouth may have been killed for her Rolex
A 69-year-old woman found murdered in her flat with tape over her mouth was discovered when a neighbour helped her concerned niece break down the door. Jennifer Abbott, also known as Sarah Steinberg, was last seen walking her pet corgi in Camden, north London, on June 10. She was found fatally injured three days later. An ambulance crew was called to her home in Mornington Place, Camden, at around 6pm on June 13 and she was pronounced dead at the scene. A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said her son went out to help Ms Abbott's niece and the pair made the harrowing discovery. Investigators fear she may have been killed for her diamond-encrusted Rolex. Her pet Corgi had been shut in the bathroom for three days but survived. The neighbour said: 'My son broke the door down. We heard her niece shouting: 'Somebody help me, somebody help' and we went out and asked 'what's wrong?' 'She said: 'I haven't heard from my aunty in four days. Something's wrong – break the door down'. 'I was holding the door open downstairs and my son was upstairs and then I heard her niece screaming and saying: 'Oh my God, she's been murdered'. She had tape across her mouth. 'Her corgi was locked in the bathroom for three days. That poor dog, he couldn't even drink any water, it's amazing he was even still alive.' She said her neighbour was 'mysterious, and very smart and intelligent'. 'We would chat in the street most of the time. I used to walk around the block with her with her dog,' she said. 'I can't believe we won't see her walking the corgi any more. She was very exuberant, very vivacious. 'She had done a lot of things in her life. She was a doctor but she was also an actor and director in America. She'd directed a movie and I looked at it on YouTube and saw her interviewed in Los Angeles. 'She was a character. She was lovely. 'You're never going to see her again and you just can't take it in. I said to my son: 'I can't believe we were sitting here in the living room, maybe watching television, while she was over there going through that and we didn't know.' The neighbour said that drug users sit in doorways in the area including near Ms Abbott's flat. Another woman living nearby described Ms Abbott as 'a woman of taste', while William Currie, 63, a hairdresser, said: 'I just used to see her walking around with her little corgi. 'We just said hello, waved to each other and smiled. 'She used to walk the dog every couple of days. She kept herself to herself, she wasn't too sociable but kind, polite and well-mannered. 'The dog was fat and chubby and barked a lot.' Police said a post-mortem examination was carried out on Sunday and gave cause of death as sharp force trauma. Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart said: 'We are working closely with our colleagues in the homicide team to establish exactly what happened and it's incredibly important that we hear from anyone who may have knowledge about how this awful death occurred. 'Were you out in Camden on Friday? 'Perhaps you had been coming home from work, or at an event nearby? 'Did you see or hear anything around Mornington Place that struck you as being unusual? 'Someone must have seen or heard something and no piece of information is too small. 'It could be the crucial clue that leads us to identify Jennifer's murderer. 'Extra patrols continue in the area while my officers remain at the crime scene. 'I would urge anyone who has any information, or who may be worried, to speak to them.' Anyone with information can call police on 101 or message @MetCC on X, giving the reference 6470/13JUN.
