Manhunt continues for killer of Sadie Hartley found stabbed to death in her home

Murder squad detectives are continuing to hunt for the killer of a 60-year-old woman who was found dead at her home in Lancashire. Sadie Hartley's body was found with multiple stab wounds late on the night of Friday, 15 January.

Police and paramedics were called to the £450,000 stone built house in Helmshore after an employee at her company became concerned that she had not been in touch.

"We are in the early stages of our enquiries and are working to establish exactly how Sadie has come about these injuries," said Detective Superintendent Andy Murphy of Lancashire Police. He added that they had "a large team of detectives dedicated to following all lines of enquiry" and specialist officers were supporting her family.

It is thought that Hartley was last seen alive on Thursday, 14 January, in Manchester at a conference with a colleague. She also last made contact with family on Thursday evening, police said.

Hartley was co-director of Hartley Taylor Medical Communications, a company which organises conferences, courses and networking events for healthcare professionals and firms. Accounts filed with Companies House showed it had £209,940 in net assets in December 2014.

Hartley is believed to have rented the Helmshore home. The house's owner is believed to be in Australia.

According to neighbours, there had been a spate of house burglaries in the area, with car keys being stolen from homes and high-performance cars targeted. Pam Connell, 55, who has lived on the same street for 12 years, said they assumed there had been another break-in when they saw the police arrive.

Hartley had probably only lived there about 12 months, said Connell, and her partner does mountain rescue and is an ex-fireman, the 55-year-old told The Manchester Evening News.

"I have seen her passing in her car but didn't really know her," she said. "It was her 60th birthday last year and they had a party with a big marquee."

"It's so sad what has happened," she added. "You just don't expect it to happen on your own doorstep."