Retired British actress Viscella Richards has been found dead at her Caribbean home after her property was ransacked by robbers.
The star, who used the stage name Vikki Richards, was found on Wednesday with her hands bound inside her bedroom in North Valsyn, north of Trinidad, The Sun has reported.
Police have said they believe the 79-year-old was killed by robbers after her property was found ransacked, however authorities say there were no other marks of violence on her body.
Viscella was best known for her role as a supporting actor in Black Snake and part in Zeta One.
Born in Trinidad, the star moved to the UK with her family when she was six years-old, but moved back following her retirement.
Retired British actress Viscella Richards has been found dead at her Caribbean home as police investigate after it was ransacked by robbers on Wednesday
Police have said they believe the 79-year-old was killed by robbers after her property was found ransacked, however authorities say there were no other marks of violence on her body
The publication reported that local police are now investigating after her body was found by a carer on her bedroom floor after concerns grew as she hadn’t been able to reach the star since Tuesday evening.
The woman arrived at the house to find the front gate closed and called out to Viscella several times after finding the front door ajar before she stumbled upon the body.
Her friend, barrister Sir Timothy Cassel KC, told the publication: ‘The gate was open when she was found and the door was open. So whoever was there was let in by her.
‘Whether she knew them or not, or whether they manipulated her vulnerability, who knows? It’s terribly sad.’
The hard drive from the security cameras were also reportedly stolen.
Viscella’s cousin said: ‘Yes, we were concerned about her safety because we were getting things in place to get somebody to stay with her as her illness progressed.’
It is believed Viscella had dementia, as a cousin told The Sun she was still well enough to take care of herself, but couldn’t be left alone for much longer.
‘We have lots of memories to talk about, but too much to mention,’ she said. ‘She was a very friendly person, very outgoing and outspoken.’
One neighbour said, ‘She was a beautiful lady, a warm person, engaging, thorough.’
‘Living alone in this place, we felt she needed somebody in the house with her, but in a situation like this with people realising she lived alone…she may have been a soft target,’ he added.
The star, who used the stage name Vikki Richards, was best known for her role as a supporting actor in Black Snake and role in Zeta One
Viscella’s friend, barrister Sir Timothy Cassel KC, told The Sun: ‘The gate was open when she was found and the door was open. So whoever was there was let in by her. ‘Whether she knew them or not, or whether they manipulated her vulnerability, who knows? It’s terribly sad’
Another relative told Newsday: ‘She was just beautiful, and I don’t mean in just appearance, but her soul was beautiful.’
They added that despite retiring, the late actor didn’t stop performing as she continued to work with a theatre group and on other projects.
The relative said: ‘She was an outgoing person. She loved to perform – she never stopped.’
Another relative who asked to remain anonymous told The Sun that she had recently spent time in England and Europe and only returned to Trinidad in January.
‘She loved to travel and shop. She loved being out and travelled throughout Europe. She loved Italy,’ said her cousin.
Asked if she saw her cousin’s films, she said that she had seen a few, ‘but I never really kept up with the films she was in’.
The star’s relative did not want to talk about how she died, but noted that pieces of jewellery from her house were missing.
Vikki began her career onstage, later appearing in TV’s The Onedin Line, Return of the Saint and Howard’s Way.
In 1974, she was in the first ever photo taken by legendary Sun photographer Arthur Edwards when she posed with Wolves star striker John Richards.
Arthur managed to persuade the footballer to pose with the actress, capturing a photo that would begin his stellar career on Fleet Street.
