Murder probe after knifing

Mar 14 2010 by Dan Warburton, Sunday Sun

THE FAMILY of Tracy Dryden last night paid a moving tribute to the doting mum after she was knifed to death in a quiet village street.

Reports that the 38-year-old nurse was stabbed to death sparked a huge investigation in Halton, Lancaster, in Lancashire, at around 8.30am on Friday.

The brazen daylight attack is believed to have been carried out as children at a nearby school were filing into their classes and a milkman made his deliveries.

Officers raced to the scene and found mum-of-two Tracy, of Ingleton, North Yorkshire, lying injured on the ground where paramedics desperately fought to save her life, but she was eventually pronounced dead at the scene.

A man has now been charged with her murder.

Tracy’s family last night revealed their devastation and described her as “irreplaceable” in a statement released through Lancashire Police.

It said: “Tracy was a loving and wonderful mother, daughter and sister.

“She had many friends and real enthusiasm for walking, swimming, running and climbing with her sons.

“She was completely dedicated to her two children, whilst at the same time working in completing her PHD.

“She will be dreadfully missed by us and was an irreplaceable part of all our lives.”

A huge cordon was thrown up around the scene following the incident on Friday morning.

The area was sealed off while crime scene investigators conducted forensic checks and a major incident room was opened at Lancaster police station.

Last night the results of a postmortem examination revealed Tracy died from a single stab wound to the chest.