By STACY MOORE Monday, September 17 2012

Anita Williams, 65, was gagged and hog-tied before her house was set on fire.

Her charred remains were found inside her home at Turney Street, Mon Repos, San Fernando, yesterday morning.

Investigators are uncertain if Williams was alive when her attackers set her house on fire, an autopsy at the Forensic Science Centre today will determine how she died.

All that is certain is that she was murdered, as homicide police continue their investigations, that began when they responded to reports of the discovery of a woman’s body after a fire in San Fernando.

It was at about 2.45 am when residents of Turney Street were alerted by smoke billowing from the front of Williams’ house. They had to give up their efforts to put out the fire as a thick cloud of smoke covered the area. It did not take long for fire and police officers to arrive, and the firefighters had to break the windows and front door of the house to gain entry.

When they got in they found Williams’ burnt body in the living room.

Neighbours said she lived in the house for ten years, and for many years her brother stayed with her until he died three years ago. She has been alone since then.

It was already hard for neighbours to bear the thought that she had burnt to death, but they were more shocked to learn that Williams was tied-up, and therefore, murdered.

“I just can’t believe it. I saw her just the other day, now to hear she is dead. It is shocking I still can’t believe it,” a resident said.

The man said he saw smoke and fire coming from Williams’ house in the early hours of the morning.

“Everyone was standing outside wondering what to do. It was no way anyone could have gone into the house. It was on fire, it was too much. I for one, felt so helpless,” he said.

Another neighbour said she was awakened by the commotion in the road.

“I got up and saw police and firemen in front the house then I was told happened. It is horrible,” the woman said. Neighbours described Williams as a quiet and respectable woman.

“You hardly saw her outside but she was very respectable to everyone,” said a woman, who at first thought Williams, who she said smoked, had lit a cigarette while in bed.

“I know she smoked so I said to myself, ‘oh gosh she fell asleep with the cigarette’, now to be told later that she was murdered in her house and tied up,” the shocked woman lamented.

“This is our neighbour. So you see how close it is. The crime in this country is getting worse. Something like this has never occurred in this community, so what are we to think now.”

Williams was said to be a relative of a bookstore owner, however only her neighbours were on the scene to mourn her.