Rocky Mount Woman's Death Labeled Murder

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — Rocky Mount police Monday said the death of a woman found during an apartment fire on Fletcher Drive was murder.

An autopsy whose results were made public Monday afternoon showed Ellen Sharpe, 65, died from blunt force trauma to the head and strangulation, police said.

They said it appeared someone murdered Sharpe, then set her apartment afire Friday morning to try to destroy the evidence.

Investigators said they found no signs of forced entry, making them suspect Sharpe knew her assailant or assailants and let them in.

Exactly what happened inside the apartment is still unknown, but the Sharpe’s death has many people upset and scared.

"I think the most scary thing is the yellow tape,” one neighbor said. "It’s tragic. I mean, knowing you have a killer running around out here. …”

Another neighbor saw smoke and called 911. Firefighters found Sharpe's body.

Detectives aid Monday that they had not pieced together the motive for the slaying and were looking for a suspect or suspects.

Police asked anyone with any information to call Rocky Mount CrimeStoppers at 252-977-1111.