Woman stabbed to death in kitchen

April 7, 2009 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- The body of 83-year-old Flora Thompson was found in her West Side apartment.

An autopsy found Thompson was stabbed. On Tuesday night, relatives and neighbors are remembering her as a woman who helped others in the Garfield Park community.

Flora Thompson was well known and respected on her block for not tolerating anyone loafing around on her front yard. But she would also welcome anyone into her home who needed help.

On Tuesday, her family is hoping her killer will be found.

The house where Flora Thompson lived for more than 30 years, has turned into a crime scene.

Thompson was found during a well being check on Monday evening beaten and stabbed to death.

On Tuesday, family members, shaken up over her murder, recall a feisty woman with a soft heart, who kept a close eye on her property.

"If you hung around long enough, she would yell at you. Get your act together, or get away. She would never harm a fly, though," said James Moore, Thompson's nephew.

"She stuck to her word, she was a firm person. She had an open heart for people," said Antonio Ward, Thompson's nephew.

Ward says Thompson helped anyone who needed it, including him a few years ago when he launched his own T-shirt business.

She was a widow with no children when she moved to the Garfield park two-flat and over the years, strived to maintain her independence.

"I used to come over and help her with things she couldn't do, clean up and all that stuff," said Fontaine Baker, Thompson's neighbor.

But respiratory and high blood pressure problems required regular visits from a nurse, who arrived for his Tuesday appointment with Thompson, only to find out she was murdered.

"I never dream or think about that," said Joe Tolentino, Thompson's nurse. "It's sad day."

While detectives canvassed the area for clues, Thompson's family says the answers might be found in the neighborhood that she watched so closely from her house.

"If you notice all the loud music, and the drugs, it's crime all over the place," said Moore. "Maybe somebody came past and thought it was a quick score."

Area 4 detectives are investigating the homicide. They ask anyone with information to give them a call.

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local, karen jordan

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