South Boston woman, 67, fatally stabbed inside home on Monday morning
A 67-year-old woman was fatally stabbed inside her South Boston home Monday morning in a crime that has stunned and angered the community, officials and neighbors said.
Boston police did not identify the woman or release details about the circumstances of the stabbing inside 737 East Seventh St., except to say that officers responded at about 10 a.m.
The woman was taken to Boston Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead, police said.
State Senator Jack Hart, who represents the neighborhood, identified the woman in a phone interview as Barbara Coyne.
‘‘She’s a great community person, and it’s a tragic death that she suffered,’’ Hart said. ‘‘A death like that in any neighborhood in the city is difficult, but people are somewhat shocked here because we don’t see these kinds of things in that part of town.’’
Hart said the concern is now for Coyne’s relatives and also for the investigation.
‘‘We’re praying for the family, and we’re hoping that the police apprehend [a] suspect as soon as possible,’’ he said.
Hart said one of Coyne’s daughters is married to the brother of former police commissioner Paul Evans and current police Superintendent William Evans.
Coyne’s relatives could not be reached for comment.
Ed Flynn, 43, a resident of nearby Gold Street, said he used to play sports with Coyne’s sons, but he did not know her well.
‘‘They are a wonderful South Boston family that always contributed,’’ Flynn said. ‘‘The people that live in South Boston are wonderful, and this senseless crime is an outrage.’’
Kathy O’Leary, 65, who lives on nearby Peters Street, was also disturbed by the news.
‘‘It’s a very safe neighborhood; things like this never happen,’’ she said. ‘‘It’s sad, and nine out of 10 times its done by somebody not from the neighborhood.’’
State Representative Nick Collins, who also represents the area, reiterated that the neighborhood is safe and said the crime was unsettling.
‘‘We will be getting together with the police and determine a plan of action,’’ Collins said.
A spokesman for Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said he had no additional information on the case Monday night.
Homicide detectives are awaiting the autopsy report to determine the cause of the death, police said.
Elaine Driscoll, a police spokeswoman, said detectives obtained a search warrant for the home and were investigating inside throughout the day.
She declined to say what, if anything, police may have discovered or collected.
‘‘At this early stage in the investigation, detectives are unclear [on] what the motive is,’’ she said. ‘‘Any suggestion at this point about what it may be would be purely speculative on anyone’s part.’’
Police urge anyone with information on the stabbing to contact detectives at 617-343-4470.
Members of the public can also call the department’s anonymous tip line at 1-800-494-TIPS or text the word TIP to CRIME (27463).
Travis Andersen can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @TAGlobe. Patrick D. Rosso can be reached at [email protected].
