A widower, 88, was beaten to death during a break-in at his Surrey bungalow, a post-mortem has revealed.
Named locally as village preservation society member Dennis Kellond, the victim was found by his son Peter at his home in the leafy village of Godstone, Surrey on Monday.
Peter visited his father after being alerted to a possible problem by a female neighbour who was concerned the pensioner’s back door had been left open for more than 24 hours.
Mr Kellond’s son discovered the body at his £730,000 bungalow at 11am on Monday.
A female neighbour, in her 70s, said that the suspected murder followed a ‘spate’ of break-ins in the area – with burglars reportedly wearing hazmat suits.
Speaking today, Surrey Police revealed that Mr Kellond had died of a head injury.
Dennis Kellond, 88, from Godstone Boules Group, of which he was a member, pictured while playing Boules with fellow members and friends (centre with tape). He was found dead at his home in Godstone by his son on Monday
This was the first picture to emerge of Dennis Kellond, whose death has sparked a murder investigation in Surrey
Kellond, third from left, was found dead at his home in Surrey by his son, with a post-mortem revealing he died of a head injury
Pictured: The property burglars broke into as police search for Dennis Kellond’s killer or killers this afternoon
Police are pictured at the scene scouring for evidence after the 88-year-old died in Godstone
A spokesman added that teams of officers have been carrying out house to house enquiries, forensic and search units have been making detailed investigations, and detectives are continuing to question people.
Officers have also stepped up patrols in the area to provide reassurance to the local community.
Neighbours previously revealed that burglars wearing hazmat suits had struck at four houses in the village just days before Mr Kellond’s body was found.
One woman said : ‘According to the police it’s because everyone is at home so they aren’t burgling houses, but sheds instead. That’s the police’s theory anyway.’
The neighbour said she had captured pictures of the suspected burglars on wildlife cameras as they passed through her garden on Easter Friday.
She added: ‘There were two of them wearing white PPE overalls and white masks. It happened over Easter and has been reported to the police. They didn’t steal anything from us but have taken items from others. They have stolen bikes, lawnmowers and power tools.
A forensics team are pictured looking for evidence close to the Surrey property following the pensioner’s death
Surrey Police officers are pictured searching Godstone following the discovery of the 88-year-old’s body in the village
‘It’s really strange to be stealing while people are in their homes on lockdown. It’s affected the whole village. We have a community Facebook group and we have been discussing it there.’
Detectives from a major two-county crime team were called in to carry out inquiries around the crime scene while the hunt for the pensioner’s killer or killers continued.
In an appeal on Wednesday, Chief Inspector Alan Sproston called on anyone with any information or video to come forward.
He said: ‘Firstly, I would like to reassure the local community that we are doing everything we can to find out what has happened and to identify and bring to justice those responsible for this horrendous crime.
‘Our thoughts remain with his family and friends at this time who are being supported by specialist officers.
Officers are pictured investigating in Godstone, Surrey, following the 88-year-old’s death
‘We are pursuing a number of lines of enquiry but would particularly like to appeal to anyone who was in the A25/ Bletchingley Road area of Godstone between Ivy Mill Lane and Knights Way between 10am and 3pm on Saturday, 25 April and who may have seen something suspicious, to come forward as a matter of urgency.
‘The road is a well-travelled route which is also used by walkers and cyclists, and we are also appealing to anyone who may have dashcam or video footage to get in touch with us as soon as possible.’
Police said if anyone could help, they should call 101 or upload video and dashcam footage online onto the Major Incident Public Portal at https://mipp.police.uk/operation/4520K38-PO1 quoting Operation Zither.
‘Alternatively, if you do not wish to leave your name, please call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111,’ the spokesman added.
Just over a week ago a gang of suspected burglars struck a row of cottages yards from the victim’s home whilst disguised in white COVID-19 ‘suits,’ according to residents.
Jason Drewett, who has lived in the village for a decade, said: ‘Burglars broke into three to four houses in the row of cottages where I live on the evening of Easter Friday, or morning of the following day.
Police are pictured conducting door to enquiries in Godstone, Surrey, as they investigate the death of the widower
The map shows where Godstone is in Surrey, with the village lying just outside the M25 in south-east England
‘They were captured on CCTV footage by one of the neighbours all wearing these COVID-19 suits, the medical gowns. It was quite unsightly.’
Reverend Peter O’Connell, vicar at the nearby St Nicholas Church, said yesterday: ‘Yesterday morning one of his neighbours contacted me to let me know what had happened.
‘They hadn’t been able to get a response from him and when someone is 88 and isn’t contactable by phone, you wonder what’s going on.
‘Across the village, people are trying to look after people – particularly more the more frail and elderly.
‘His neighbours had been trying to keep in touch to make sure he had enough food and was healthy.
‘We’ve heard what the police have said, that it was some sort of break-in and police are describing it as murder.
‘It’s a tragedy for his family and the village at a time when we thought the virus was the worst thing we had to worry about.’
Rev O’Connell confirmed the victim was Mr Kellond. He added: ‘He kept very much to himself. He was very involved in the village preservation society and was on the committee in recent years, but had slowed down his involvement.’
The victim’s body has not yet formally identified and police said that they were giving no further details until later in the investigation.
Police closed the A25 in both directions while forensics sweep the area. The victim lived in a bungalow near the village green.
Eddie Woods, who lives in a nearby cul-de-sac, said: ‘His wife died last year so he lived on his own. We saw him around the village on a Saturday morning getting his paper.
‘He seemed like a really nice chap. As we went past we would say good morning. He kept himself to himself.
‘It became apparent as they were there all day and then the forensics arrived and all the searches – obviously something serious was going on.’
His wife Jill Woods added: ‘I don’t feel unsafe – just numb. I feel really sad that this has happened literally down the road.’
She said friends had reported burglaries in the area on Sunday night where CCTV had caught people in boiler suits with ski masks on ‘going equipped’.
Another neighbour, who lives in the same cul-de-sac, said: ‘We always saw him as we walked past and would wave to him and say good morning. He was very nice and was always out in his front garden.’
Officers conducted house-to-house inquiries and one lane of the A25 which runs through Godstone was closed while searches were carried out at the Surrey property.