A Tragic Discovery in East London
A 74-year-old grandmother has been found dead at the home she shared with her son, who has been arrested on suspicion of her murder. The incident occurred in Upton Park, East London, where police were called to a house on Tuesday afternoon after the body of Angela Biggs was discovered.
Angela, who had undergone heart surgery four months ago, was found at the semi-detached property. Her son, 44-year-old Richard Clayton, who had moved in to care for his mother, was later seen being led away by police in handcuffs. Officers arrived at the house just after 12:30 pm and attempted to resuscitate Mrs. Biggs, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
A Life of Care and Devotion
The mother of three, who had at least two grandchildren, had lived at the property for more than 25 years. She moved in with her second husband, but he died a few months later, and she lived mostly by herself. Her son moved in around a year ago when she had serious problems with her heart. She was hospitalized last November and fitted with a pacemaker.
A neighbor and long-time friend shared her account of the events that unfolded on Tuesday. “I came down the stairs yesterday afternoon and I could see a blue flashing light,” she said. “I looked out the window in the front door. There was an ambulance parked right outside Angela’s house. I called to my son and he went out and came back and told me that there wasn’t just one ambulance but several and the road was full of police cars.”
“I said to him ‘I hope Angela is ok’ and he went back out again and returned quickly and asked me to go back into the house. I went upstairs and from my bedroom window I could see a policeman sealing off Angela’s house with police tape. There were paramedics going in and out. And then a short time later Richard was led out the house in handcuffs by two officers. He was wearing a T-shirt, shorts and slippers.”
A Close-Knit Community
Angela, originally from Trinidad and Tobago, had two sons from her first marriage, Richard and his older brother Peter, who died when he was just 18. She married a second time to Isaac Biggs and had a daughter with him.
The neighbor continued: “Angela and I were like sisters, we were really close. She would sweep my path and take my bins out and I’d do the same for her. We’d chat over the garden fence all the time. She was the nicest person you could meet, softly spoken with a lovely manner. In all the years I knew her, I never heard her once raise her voice or speak harshly to someone. She would help you anyway she could. She was the best neighbour and I’ll miss her so much, I’ve been in tears a lot since yesterday.”
Another neighbor mentioned that Mrs. Biggs had been at the local Newham University Hospital but transferred to St Bartholomew’s Hospital in the City of London, some six miles away. “I went and saw Angela when she was in Newham Hospital, she had been suffering serious issues with her heart for quite some time. A few months later I bumped into her son Richard, who lived with her.”
Police Response and Ongoing Investigation
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said officers were called at 12:36 pm to reports of a death at a house in St George’s Square, Upton Park. Officers who arrived first at the scene attempted to provide first aid but the woman was sadly pronounced dead. A 44-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody.
Chief Superintendent Dan Card, who leads policing in Newham, said: “This is an incredibly sad incident in which a woman has lost her life, and our hearts go out to her family and friends. Officers are continuing to work with care and determination to understand the full circumstances of what happened. A man, believed to be known to the woman, is in custody, and this is being treated as an isolated incident.”
The woman’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers. A crime scene remains in place while officers continue to carry out enquiries.
Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting reference CAD 3397/17Feb. Those who wish to remain anonymous can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
