Slain Woodlyn woman strangled, stabbed

An 81-year-old Woodlyn woman found dead at her home Monday had been strangled and stabbed, the Delaware County medical examiner said yesterday.

Marie Ott died of "ligature strangulation associated with multiple stab wounds of the chest and suffocation," reported Fredric N. Hellman, who conducted the autopsy Tuesday and ruled the death a homicide.

The 5-foot, 150-pound Ott likely was assaulted Sunday, Hellman's report said.

Michelle Coupe, who has lived across from Ott on Crum Creek Drive for 13 years, said news of the slaying was extremely disturbing.

"It's a very quiet neighborhood, and now it's a very scary neighborhood," she said, adding that she wished police would provide more information about what had happened.

"I'm thinking twice about letting my kids go out for Halloween," Coupe said.

Ridley Township Police Capt. Charles Howley did not return repeated telephone calls yesterday.

Michael J. Mattson, a spokesman for Delaware County District Attorney G. Michael Green, said information would have to come from the Ridley Police Department, the lead investigator. County detectives were assisting only as requested, he said.

Coupe said she and her husband had not had a lot of contact with Ott, but occasionally helped her with yard work or a trip to the drugstore. Ott visited her son daily in his nursing home, Coupe said.

"She was a very nice woman," Coupe said.

The homicide was the second of an elderly Delaware County woman in less than two months. On Sept. 11, Upper Darby police discovered the body of Jane Morgan, 84, who had been strangled, beaten and sexually assaulted.

No arrests have been made in that case, but investigators have identified a "person of interest" and are awaiting DNA test results, Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael J. Chitwood said.