Woman, 66, held on suspicion of murder after death of Jennifer Abbott was found dead in London flat

A 66-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the discovery of the body of Jennifer Abbott, a 69-year-old film director, in her north London apartment. Abbott, who was known professionally as Sarah Steinberg, was found deceased in her Camden flat on June 13, 2023, with tape covering her mouth. She had not been seen for three days prior to the discovery, during which time she was reportedly last spotted walking her pet corgi in the vicinity. The Metropolitan Police's Detective Inspector Barry Hart expressed condolences to Abbott's family and acknowledged the community's support during the ongoing investigation. He emphasized the importance of the recent arrest as a pivotal development in the case, while also noting that multiple lines of inquiry remain active as detectives work to uncover the circumstances surrounding Abbott's death.

In the investigation, authorities revealed that a diamond-encrusted Rolex watch, believed to be missing from Abbott's residence, could be a crucial piece of evidence linked to the crime. Although police have not ruled out any potential motives, they are actively soliciting information from the public regarding the watch, which may provide insights into the circumstances of the incident. Emergency services were alerted to Abbott's home on the evening of June 13, where she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. A postmortem examination conducted days later determined that the cause of death was sharp force trauma, further compounding the urgency and seriousness of the investigation. The community remains on edge as detectives continue to piece together the events leading to this tragic incident, and as the investigation unfolds, the focus will be on understanding the motives and circumstances that led to Abbott's untimely death.