71-year-old woman found murdered inside her Sandy Springs home

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — The Fulton County Medical Examiner said someone stabbed a 71-year-old Sandy Springs grandmother to death inside her home and police are now actively searching for her killer and her car.

Channel 2's Mike Petchenik spent the day Thursday at the home along Woodbine Road as crime scene investigators scoured for any clues in the case.

Petchenik said he watched detectives removing bags of evidence from the home, clearing the scene shortly before 6 p.m.

Homeowners told Petchenik they are in shock about the death of their longtime neighbor Kay Thomasson.

"I hope, especially for the family that they can get some closure," neighbor Jane Kerr said. "I hope they are able to find out whoever did it."

Investigators said Thomasson missed an appointment on Wednesday. When a family member stopped by the home to check on her, they found her dead inside.

The medical examiner's office said someone had stabbed Thomasson in the back of the neck.

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"We are very concerned with this. We are working around the clock. We've been working since we got the call last night and we aren't going to stop until we've identified a suspect and take them into custody," said Sgt. Sam Worsham with the Sandy Springs Police Department.

Police said someone also stole her car, which is a 2012 Kia Sorrento with Georgia tag PWU1162.

"All of our detectives are doing a canvass of the area, gathering up any evidence we have at the time,” Worsham said,

Kerr told Petchenik that she has called the normally quiet neighborhood home for 50 years. She said she knows Thomasson and can't understand who would want to hurt her.

"It scares me," Kerr said. "I’m just stunned. She led her own life, was constantly going. I can't imagine."

Kerr said crime is not the norm there.

"I've been in this neighborhood since '69 and we've just never had anything like this. It's just been a peaceful, loving neighborhood. It's not a neighborhood, it's been a community."

Petchenik spoke to another neighbor off camera who said Thomasson had lived in the home for 25 years, she mostly kept to herself and was very self-sufficient.

The neighbor said they are at a loss for words about what happened.

Crime Stoppers is offering a $10,000 reward for anyone who has information that may lead to an arrest in this case. You can call them at 404-577-8477.

Cox Media Group