Pictured: Daughter, 38, who will stand trial for murdering her missing mother even though the 65-year-old’s body has not been found
- Lucy Fox, 38, has been charged with murder and arson with intent to endanger life by police investigating concerns for the welfare of Judith Fox
- Police said the charges brought against Fox were connected to a fire outside a house in Apley Park, near Bridgnorth, Shropshire, in the early hours of Sunday
- Prosecutors told the court that ‘the body of Judith Fox has not yet been found’
A woman has been accused of murdering her 65-year-old missing mother after emergency services were called to a fire at her family home.
Lucy Fox, 38, was charged with murder and arson with intent to endanger life by police investigating concerns for the welfare of pensioner Judith Fox.
Police said the charges brought against Fox were connected to a fire outside a house in Apley Park, near Bridgnorth, Shropshire, in the early hours of Sunday.
Appearing at Stafford Crown Court today via video link, the defendant, also from Bridgnorth, was told she faces a trial in the week beginning November 30.
Prosecutor Kevin Hegarty QC told the court that ‘the body of Judith Fox has not yet been found and the investigation continues’.
Lucy Fox (left), 38, was charged with murder and arson with intent to endanger life by police investigating concerns for the welfare of pensioner Judith Fox (right), 65
West Mercia Police said in a statement: ‘No-one was injured in the fire.
‘Subsequent enquiries into the fire led to concern for the welfare of a 65-year-old woman at an address in Haughton Drive in Shifnal.
‘Enquiries are ongoing to locate her.’
Fox was remanded in custody until a plea hearing on July 14 at the same court.
Judith Fox previously worked as a nurse at the Express & Star and Shropshire Star newspapers, according to the BBC.
Inquiries at a house fire in Apley Park, between Bridgnorth and Ironbridge, led them to a house in Haughton Drive, Shifnal (pictured), where a police cordon remains
Her family said in a statement: ‘Judy was a wonderful mother and a devoted grandmother. Our hearts are breaking with sadness’.
Known affectionately as Nurse Judy, she was known to all staff and described by former colleagues as a ‘wonderful’ and ‘caring’ woman.
Officers were alerted after a fire at a Georgian house in Apley Park, between Bridgnorth and Ironbridge last weekend.
Inquiries there led them to the house in Shifnal, where a search of the property prompted a murder inquiry and a subsequent search for Mrs Fox.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Bellamy, who is involved in the case, thanked neighbours for their cooperation as the search of the area continues.