Unidentified persons murdered a 52-year-old woman at her house in Mattankuppam in Triplicane on Friday and stole 40 sovereigns of jewellery.
The victim, Kala, was living alone on Kaliamman Koil South Second Street. She was estranged from her husband.
Her elder son Kamal tried to reach her over phone on Friday. He grew suspicious as she did not respond despite repeated calls. The police entered the house after breaking the lock. They found Kala in a pool of blood in the kitchen with injury marks on her neck and head.
Her gold jewellery was missing.