A 55-year-old woman who was murdered while house-sitting in a quiet seaside village died from "significant head and facial injuries", a post-mortem examination has revealed.
Valerie Graves, from Bracklesham Bay, West Sussex, was found dead at the property in Smuggler's Lane in nearby Bosham on Monday morning.
She had been house-sitting with three other members of her family over the Christmas period while the owners of the detached family house were away on holiday.
MORE:
A Sussex Police spokesman said detectives are continuing to appeal for witnesses to come forward and investigations are continuing.
Detective Chief Inspector Jon Fanner said: "The post-mortem has revealed the cause of death but we are still keeping an open mind as to the motive.
"We are appealing for witnesses who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously or anything unusual in the area from late afternoon on Sunday 29 December to around 10am on Monday 30 December.
"Please call us if you know anything, no matter how insignificant you might think it is. It could be important to the investigation."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here