RESIDENTS of Whitehead have been left in a "great deal of shock" following the murder of 64-year-old Alyson Nelson, locals have said as police were granted extra time to quiz a man arrested in connection with her killing.
Ms Nelson was found stabbed to death at a house in the Victoria Avenue area of Whitehead on Saturday after emergency services were called to the scene at around 6.10pm.
The crime has stunned the community in the coastal Co Antrim town, a neighbour of Ms Nelson said yesterday.
Maeve Taylor told the BBC yesterday she felt "so sorry" for the family of Ms Nelson, who she described as a "lovely neighbour".
"She walked her dogs, everybody knew her around the town," Ms Taylor said.
"She would have been out and about and always very friendly, very chatty and she will be badly missed."
She added: "It is just shocking, how she has passed away."
Local Anglican Rector, Rev Mark Taylor of St Patrick's Church in the town said the news had been "very difficult" for locals to deal with, adding: "There was a great deal of shock".
Meanwhile, police investigating the murder were yesterday granted an extra 36 hours to question a man in his sixties who was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of the murder of Ms Nelson.
He remained in custody last night.
A PSNI spokesperson said: "As part of our investigation, we would appeal to anyone who was in the area of Victoria Avenue, Edward Road, Balmoral Avenue, Kings Road or Islandmagee Road on Saturday between 5pm-7pm and has dash-cam footage, or who has premises in that area with CCTV to contact us on 101 quoting reference number 1502 of 16/04/22."
