A woman has been arrested over the murder of a film director who was found dead in her flat with her diamond Rolex missing.
Police arrested the 66-year-old on Wednesday in connection with the stabbing of Jennifer Abbott. She has been remanded in custody.
The director, 69, was stabbed to death in her council flat in Camden on Friday just days after she was last seen by neighbours walking her pet corgi Prince.
She was discovered wrapped in a blanket with tape over her mouth by her niece and neighbours, who broke into her home amid growing concerns for her welfare, pals said.
The Metropolitan Police have been hunting for her killer, who is believed to have made off with her diamond-encrusted Rolex after it went missing from her address.
They were called to her address on Mornington Place by the London Ambulance Service at 6pm on Friday were they found the victim with stab injuries. They pronounced her dead at the scene.
Detective Inspector Barry Hart, of Homicide Command, Specialist Crime North, said: ‘Our deepest sympathies are with the victim’s loved ones who are being supported by specialist officers at this time.
‘We thank the local community for their patience as we continue to investigate this shocking crime.
A woman has been arrested over the murder of film director Jennifer Abbott, pictured, who was found dead in her flat with her diamond Rolex missing
Police believe a possible motive for the murder is linked to a Rolex watch with a distinctive diamond encrusted face, which they think is missing from Ms Abbott’s address
Ms Abbott pictured with Paris Hilton wearing the Rolex that has been taken from her home
‘This arrest marks a significant step forward. There are several lines of enquiry ongoing, and we are working hard to establish the exact circumstances of this incident.
‘Locals can expect to see an increased police presence in the area while we conduct our enquires.’
Ms Abbott, who counted Paris Hilton, Kate Hudson and Dan Ackroyd among her A-lister friends, moved to the capital after ‘losing everything’ from her life as a ‘movie star’.
Yesterday locals said that Ms Abbott, known professionally as Sarah Steinberg, had lived at the address for more than 10 years, having moved over from the US.
Her next door neighbour Laura, 34, said: ‘She was a movie star. She was in a couple of movies. She used to live in Beverly Hills.
‘She said she came over here and lost everything. Everything was stolen off of her.’
‘I live right next door to her. She was a friend of mine. I used to walk her dog when she was sick,’ the hairdresser added.
‘I wasn’t here – I was at my boyfriend’s when it happened. I am literally gobsmacked. Who would do that to someone?
‘If I was there I maybe could have done something.’
The award-winning director pictured with Hollywood star Kate Hudson on her social media page
Dan Ackroyd seen with Ms Abbott in another picture on her social media pages
Police pictured outside Ms Abbott’s home on Thursday. She was discovered wrapped in a blanket with tape over her mouth by her niece and neighbours
Forensics officers were seen carrying several bags of miscellaneous items from the victim’s flat on Wednesday evening.
Police officers were also spotted clearing an area next to the block of flats of branches and leaves.
Neighbour Billie Currie, 63, said he had heard a dog barking for most of the night days before Ms Abbott’s body was found.
Mr Currie told MailOnline: ‘She was always walking the dog and was really nice. She was quite reserved but very friendly.’
Another neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said she heard screaming from Ms Abbott’s niece while she was trying to gain entry to her flat.
Her son then grabbed a metal pole to bash down the door before making the grim discovery.
Ms Abbott’s corgi Prince was found locked in the bathroom after being on its own for up to three days.
The neighbour added: ‘I heard the girls banging on the door and heard her shouting “help, help”.
Flowers seen piled up inside the police cordon after the film director’s murder
Police officers pictured on the estate on Thursday. The film director was stabbed to death in her council flat in Camden on Friday
The Metropolitan Police have been hunting for her killer, who is believed to have made off with her diamond-encrusted Rolex (pictured: bags of rubbish inside the police cordon on Thursday)
‘She was a vibrant, spritely, and intelligent person. We would talk about a lot of things – politics, current affairs, her likes and dislikes, we knew what each other liked.’
She told of Ms Abbott’s colourful career, during which she has worked as a doctor, and was even involved in the film industry where she directed the movie War of the Gods.
‘She got interviewed in LA about this movie,’ she said. ‘She was known as Jenny or Janet and was quite mysterious.’
But the neighbour revealed Ms Abbott is thought have recently been diagnosed with stomach cancer.
Another neighbour said the area had recently had issues with homeless people breaking down their doors.
He said: ‘I think she had an operation and it went wrong or something.
‘There used to be a lot of homeless, breaking in doors, sleeping inside, going to the toilet.
‘Before it was all the time. Community police would come all the time. But not much anymore.’
Police at the scene of where the body was discovered in Camden on Wednesday
Floral tributes have been left at the scene where Ms Abbott was killed last week
One note reads: ‘For Dr Sarah, with love Vanessa, Kris and the twins’
Another friend said Ms Abbott had recently broken down in tears while saying she was too scared to go to sleep.
She added: ‘I remember her saying to me that once she had tried coming out of the flat and couldn’t get out because of all the druggies out there.
‘It was a dark day when that happened. It’s not about me, I feel for her and her son and her niece who had to see her like that. I can’t believe I’m not going to see her again.
‘We will miss her running around. I mean she was indoors a lot but she made herself known. She’d talk to everyone.
‘Her niece said she had a lot of jewellery so the police need to check if anything else is missing.
‘To put the dog in the bathroom and then shut her up by putting the tape across her mouth and then they ransacked her house.
‘I’m not surprised she had a Rolex. She was a woman of taste who liked to have a lot of nice things.’
