Brit and her dog found dead in St Lucia as body discovered tied up beneath bed

A British pensioner and her dog have been found dead in the Caribbean prompting local police to launch a murder investigation.

Diana Theodore, 72, was found in the early hours of Saturday morning tied underneath her bed in a pool of blood with a laceration to her head.

Her dog was also found dead in the house.

Ms Theodore moved to St Lucia from the UK over 30 years ago and a neighbour in the community said that she was reported missing by a friend she lives with.

“He came to us and said he had not seen her, so we all went in search of her but did not find her,” the neighbour recalled.

Pitons in Soufriere, St Lucia (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

“We all went looking to try to find her as she is always at home. It is not like her not to be seen in this small village. She was friendly and has been living in Morne Sion for many years now.”

St Lucia police then went on a search operation and later found her dead in a horrific condition under a bed.

Police say they are treating the death of a woman at Choiseul as a homicide and are now investigating the murder.

“About 12:00 am today, August 6, 2022, officers attached to the Choiseul Police Station were summoned to a residence at Morne Sion, Choiseul, following the discovery of an unresponsive female therein,” the statement said.

It said a medical official pronounced her dead.

Ms Theodore was a long-term member and former Councillor of Saint Lucia National Trust and the Council, Management and Staff of the Saint Lucia National Trust wrote on Facebook that it extends its "sincere condolences to the family and friends of Diana".

Police say they are treating the death of a woman at Choiseul as a homicide (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

It added: "Diana was a passionate and vocal advocate for Saint Lucia’s natural and cultural heritage.

"She was a long-term member of the Trust who also served on Council and regularly contributed her ideas, concerns and advice in areas of conservation and community interest.

"Her death is a great loss and Diana will be sorely missed", it continued.

She has one daughter who is a university lecturer in the UK.

A police spokesperson on the island said they are following all lines of inquiry and will leave no stones unturned.