Shrine for murdered Midland pensioner Betty Yates as police step up chase for killer

Jan 22 2012 by Adam Aspinall, Sunday Mercury

PRAYERS are being said for murdered Midland pensioner Betty Yates at the resting place of Mother Teresa as police step up the hunt for her brutal killer.

An impromptu shrine in memory of the retired teacher is attracting mourners in the Indian city of Calcutta as news of Betty’s murder continues to spread worldwide.

The simple tribute consists of a photograph of the gentle Bewdley pensioner, together with some garlands, and is placed by a memorial to Mother Teresa at her orphanage.

It was set up by Verity Worthington, one of Betty’s grieving former pupils, who wanted to pay tribute to the inspirational teacher who taught at schools in Worcestershire and Birmingham.

Verity, 29, from Kidderminster, is currently in India working with orphans and street children. She also set up Facebook tribute page “RIP Betty Yates, the best teacher there was.”

Betty, 77, was found dead at her remote cottage by the River Severn on January 4. She had been clubbed with her own walking stick before being stabbed in the neck with a knife.

Forensic tests established that she was murdered on the evening of January 2, and West Mercia Police detectives are following up a number of leads in the hunt for the killer.

* THE LETTERS: Cops want to trace the authors of two anonymous letters they have received in recent weeks. They were from different people, were typed, and delivered in different ways.

One was posted to a local police station and the other passed to investigators by a third party. Both contain unspecified information which has sparked new lines of inquiry.