The victim, Bruna Cossavella, lived in Lansdowne for most of her life.
At around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday February 5th, officers were called to her home on the 100 block of East Plumstead Avenue. Cossavella's son had found her at the bottom of the basement steps in a pool of blood.
Initially, it appeared she'd fallen, but an autopsy revealed she'd been stabbed in the neck and beaten to death.
"I just can't believe someone could do this to a person like that," friend Virginia Cullen said.
Cossavella was raised in Italy and London. She moved to Delaware County in 1953.
She was deeply religious. Her only son is the Reverend Anthony Cossavella of St. Andrew Parish in Drexel Hill.
"Just a sad day for Lansdowne, to lose a long time resident like that especially a sweet woman like that," Mayor Anthony Campuzano said.
Police say there are no signs of forced entry at the house and it doesn't appear anything of significant value was taken. At this point, detectives have no suspects.
"She was always so careful. She locked the doors as soon as she came in," Cullen said.
"Wednesday was a little snowstorm. Maybe people shoveling in the area saw something. We just ask them to come forward to Lansdowne detectives," Police Chief Daniel Donegan said.
Anyone with information is asked to Lansdowne Police at 610-623-0700.
