Fatal Norwich fire being treated as arson
Vera Croghan's family have described her as a "much loved mum of 4 and grandmother of 10"
Last updated 14th Dec 2020
Norfolk Police say they're treating a fatal fire at a property in Norwich last week as arson.
Officers were called by Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service following reports of a fire at a house on Unthank Road on Friday 11th December.
An elderly woman was found dead inside the property.
The victim has been identified by police, as 89 year-old Vera Croghan from Norwich.
A man in his late teens who was arrested in connection with the incident on Friday and taken in for questioning, has since been detained under the Mental Health Act and remains under investigation.
It's believed the teenager and victim were known to each other.
A cordon remains in place around the property while enquiries continue.
Detective Inspector Chris Burgess said: "From our enquiries so far we believe this was an isolated incident and we know the man arrested in connection with it was known to the victim.
"We also know that officers were called to reports of an argument at the address in Unthank Road just after midnight on Friday 11 December. On arrival officers established no offences had been committed; however, as is standard procedure, the investigation has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
"Our priority continues to be establishing the exact circumstances leading up to the fire and I am keen to hear from anyone who may have CCTV or dashcam footage in and around the vicinity of Unthank Rd between 11pm on Thursday 10 December and 7am on Friday 11 December.”
The family of Vera provided us with this statement: "The Croghan family mourn the passing of Vera Olga Sofia Croghan (23 Oct 1931 to 11 Dec 2020). Vera was a much-loved mum of four and grandmother of 10. She was a well-known and highly respected academic, having been a lecturer in Swedish and Scandinavian Studies at the UEA from its establishment in 1963 until her retirement over 30 years later. She was the author of the best-selling "Teach Yourself Swedish” book. She dearly loved Norwich and the local area, and she loved the house that she had lived in continuously for 57 years. She loved baking cakes from traditional Swedish recipes, often involving cardamoms and cinnamon! In the picture taken just a few days before her passing she is proudly showing a Swedish Apple cake "Fyriskaka”.