Elderly Mass. woman found dead from "sharp trauma" in home

NEEDHAM, Mass. – Police are investigating after an elderly woman was found murdered in her home in Massachusetts late Wednesday night, reports CBS Boston.

Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey said that 81-year-old Laura Shifrina's daughter called police Wednesday to do a wellness check on her mother after she hadn't heard from her in a couple days.

When the daughter went inside she found Shifrina dead from "sharp trauma," Morrissey said.  The station reports that the woman's body had been there for a few days. Morrissey would not officially call it a homicide or a stabbing, saying the medical examiner will determine the cause of death.

A few hours later, detectives found Shifrina's red 2011 Ford Fiesta, although police aren't yet saying where or how they found the car.

Shifrina had lived for more than 15 years in her apartment in the Needham Housing Authority, a low-income complex for the elderly and disabled.

Needham and State Police detectives spoke to other residents and gathered evidence throughout the night.

"It's a little nerve racking. It's unusual for something like this to happen in Needham. When I asked the police officer who was walking by he said just stay inside and keep your doors locked, which I did," resident Jessica Riley told the station.

Residents said Shifrina kept mostly to herself because she only spoke Russian.

"It's unfortunate I didn't know the lady personally, but it's sad to see that something like this could happen so close to home," Riley said.

"I think I'm going to stay with a friend tonight. I live two doors down from this woman," another resident told CBS Boston.

The complex is across the street from the High Rock Middle School.  Police said there is no "elevated danger in the area or reason for undue concern," but there were extra patrols there as a precaution Thursday.

Morrissey said there hasn't been a homicide in Needham for more than 10 years.