A mere 13 days into the new year, and 12 days after the first homicide of 2007, a 72-year-old woman was found dead in her West Bluff home, and police have determined it was a homicide. WEEK also has this story on their website, and they’re reporting that an autopsy is scheduled for Monday.

The Journal Star identifies the victim as Virginia K. Mallow of 438 W. Doubet Ct. in Peoria. Today would have been her 73rd birthday.

This is just so unbelievably sad. What is our city coming to? What can we do to stop the violence? It must be stopped.