Rosemary Shearman’s ‘reclusive’ killer Thomas Blazquez aroused neighbours suspicions with ‘strange’ behaviour
Thomas Blazquez. Picture: Met Police - Credit: Archant
“Reclusive” killer Thomas Blazquez lived among his neighbours for two decades, avoiding them at all costs, but aroused their suspicions with his “strange” behaviour and a police raid in which his collection of swords was confiscated.
Not one of them believed he was capable of murder, but many of them had concerns about his mental health.
One neighbour who lived very close to him in Onslow Gardens, South Woodford, said: “He was here a long time, about 20 years. In all that time I must have seen him three times.
“I tried to say hello in the garden but it became apparent he didn’t want to talk. He was a bit of a loner and didn’t have any friends.
“He would scurry away from me and he used to stay behind his door not to face me.
You may also want to watch:
“He lived like a bit of a hermit and he lived in a bit of a state.
“He wasn’t a threatening person but I think he had a mental illness.”
Most Read
- 1 NHS nurse assaulted at east London hospital
- 2 Redbridge parents' group donates six new laptops to families in need
- 3 One in 20 may have had Covid-19 last week in Redbridge, Newham and Barking and Dagenham, figures suggest
- 4 Restaurant faces losing licence after allegations of illegal club nights during pandemic
- 5 Residents furious after car park and lift flooded since before Christmas
- 6 Queen's and King George hospitals appeal for volunteers to support end of life patients
- 7 Restaurant stripped of its alcohol licence
- 8 Covid deaths increase at Queen's and King George hospitals this week
- 9 Growing public support for tougher pet theft sentences
- 10 Double murder accused remanded in custody over ‘brutal’ stabbings
She said: “Some years ago the police went in there and he got sectioned. They took weapons out of his house – swords.
“And when the police were here when they arrested him for the murder they brought weapons out too.”
Another neighbour, Ian Warren, 45, agreed that Blazquez did not fit in with his neighbours. But he did not think he would be capable of his heinous crime. He was definitely strange but I wouldn’t have put him down as that [a murderer]. I just thought he was a bit simple,” Mr Warren said. “If you saw him walking down the street with his bag then you would definitely think he was a bit strange but no one knew much about him as he was a bit of a reclusive chap.”
Read more:
Thomas Blazquez convicted of murdering bridge club friend Rosemary Shearman in her Hornchurch home
Former CPS worker Thomas Blazquez killed Hornchurch OAP ‘over £30 debt’
Hornchurch OAP killer tried to commit suicide by eating poison mushrooms in jail yard