Woman, 82, Discovered Beaten to Death

An elderly San Diego woman was found dead in her home on South 29th Street on Saturday, the apparent victim of a beating by burglars, authorities reported.

San Diego Police Sgt. Anne O’Dell said Refugio Leon, 82, was discovered in her bed at 9:10 a.m. by a friend who often stopped by to help with housework. Leon, who had lived alone for 14 years, had suffered severe trauma to the head and upper body, O’Dell said.

Because the house had been ransacked, investigators believe burglary was the motive for the attack. It was unclear Saturday whether any possessions were missing.