Burglary call leads police to woman's body

Jeff Wheeler, Star Tribune Star Tribune

A woman was found dead in her home when Minneapolis police responded to a burglary call Wednesday night. Maria Alarcon, left, and her son, Anthony Lopez, lived nearby and recalled that she knocked on their door once, saying her house had been robbed.

Minneapolis police responded to a report of a call to the woman's home in the 3600 block of Fremont Avenue N. They entered the house, which showed signs of having been broken into, and found the woman dead.

By Abby Simons, Star Tribune

Last update: February 14, 2008 - 9:36 AM

Police were investigating the death of an elderly woman in north Minneapolis as a homicide late Wednesday.

Officers responded to a report of a call to the woman's home in the 3600 block of Fremont Avenue N. about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, said police Inspector Mike Martin. They entered the house, which showed signs of having been broken into, and found the woman dead, he said.

Martin would not say how she died.

Late Wednesday, yellow crime tape surrounded the white two-story house and its detached garage at the corner of 37th and Fremont Avenues N. Police investigators were working inside and outside the house.

Maria Alarcon and her son, Anthony Lopez, who live two doors away on Fremont, said the woman, whom they'd often seen working on her yard and house, had recently knocked on their door needing help after a break-in.

"She was crying," Alarcon said. "She said, 'They want to rob me. Help me, help me. I need to call police.'" Burglars had taken her phone, Alarcon said.

More recently, they'd seen her working on her house, Lopez said. "She seemed happy," he said.

The Hennepin County medical examiner's office was working to confirm the woman's identity and determine the cause of death.

The homicide is Minneapolis' second of the year.

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