Police are probing the death of a woman in a house which was the scene of a brutal murder a decade ago.
The middle-aged woman was found dead in the kitchen of her home in the Hilton area of Inverness.
She was named locally last night as 56-year-old Elizabeth Muir, who lived alone.
Police said her death was being treated as “unexplained”.
Officers cordoned-off the single storey house in Kintail Court and there was a heavy police presence at both the front and rear of the building throughout the day yesterday.
Neighbours said they were saddened by Ms Muir’s death and that she had “kept herself very much to herself”.
It is understood she was unemployed and her next of kin, who are believed to live in the north, were being informed.
Neighbours said they saw an ambulance arrive at the house after friends of the dead woman raised the alarm.
Forensic experts could be seen examining the property yesterday afternoon.
A police spokeswoman said: “It is being treated as unexplained at the moment.”
The property has a tragic history.
In July 2006, 50-year-old Brian Grant murdered hairdresser Ilene O’Connor and hid her body in his garden before going on the run.
A year later, a jury unanimously found him guilty of murder and he was jailed for a minimum of 14 years. He remains behind bars.
Miss O’Connor, 39, of Castle Heather Road, Inverness, who also worked on a supermarket checkout, was missing for a fortnight before police discovered her body.
She had suffered serious head injuries, 26 rib fractures and a smashed breast bone.
Grant had punched, kicked and stamped on her before attempting to hide her body.
At the High Court in Edinburgh judge Lord Clarke said Grant had “shown no mercy” for his victim during the “savage and brutal” attack.
Medical experts said Miss O’Connor may have lain in a coma for up to two hours before Grant strangled her.
He stripped her, stole her rings and attempted to clean up the mess in his home, which was next door to Ms O’Connor’s sick mother, Meg.
He hoped his work as a gardener would have enabled him to cover his tracks after he buried his victim in a shallow grave.
A jury unanimously found him guilty of murder. The court heard that he had an “appalling” criminal record.
Longstanding neighbours were shocked to learn of the latest death at the house, although few knew much about her Ms Muir, who they said lived quietly.
One neighbour, who has lived in the area for 25 years said: “It’s a wonderful place, it really is. It’s very unfortunate these tragedies have happened in the time I’ve been here.
“I’ve got great neighbours. I love my wee house and I love the area.”
Another close neighbour, 85-year-old Thomas Robertson, said he often saw Ms Muir passing by but did not know her to speak to.
“We’ve a good community. Neighbours do look out for you,” he said.
