Son Finds Mother Dead, Surrounded by Blood

Police are investigating the death of an elderly woman whose body was found by her own son.

On February 5, neighbors of 89-year-old Bruna Cossavella, contacted her son, the Reverend Anthony Cossavella, a priest at the St. Andrew Parish in Drexel Hill.

The neighbors told the priest that they had not heard from his mother and were concerned for her wellbeing. Cossavella then went to his mother’s home on the 100 block of E. Plumstead Avenue in Lansdowne around 4:30 p.m. to check on her.

When he arrived, he found his mother lying at the bottom of the basement steps, surrounded by a large amount of blood. She was pronounced dead shortly after by medics who arrived at the scene. Investigators say there were no signs of forced entry into the home.

Due to the large amount of blood, police initially were unable to determine whether the woman had fallen down the steps or if she was a victim of a homicide. Her body was taken to the Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.

On Saturday, the Medical Examiner ruled her death a homicide, determining that she had been beaten and died from stab wounds to the neck.

"This lady was 89-years-old and lived her life twice over," said her neighbor, Tim Kellam. "It makes no sense. It really doesn't."

Lansdowne Police are warning residents in the area to be cautious.

"Don't let anyone into your house that you don't know, especially with the pending snowstorm coming," said Lansdowne Police Chief Daniel Donegan. "If people are asking to shovel your walk, don't invite them into your house."

If you have any information on Cossavella’s death, please call the Lansdowne Police Department at 610- 623-0700.
 

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