84-year-old Maltese woman Rita Rowley was murdered in her home in Shropshire, England, the Daily Mail reports, adding that an 80-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of her murder.

The Daily Mail reports that the 80-year-old man was arrested on the suspicion of Rowley's murder on Tuesday 27 January, at 3pm, after police were called to her detached house in Prees Higher Heath, in north Shropshire.

Rowley lived in Prees Higher Heath for over 40 years.

The 80-year-old suspect was found to be seriously injured and was taken to hospital, it reported. His injuries were said to be potentially life-threatening.

It is being reported that Rowley has family in Malta. She got married in 1962 in Sliema and later had a son and a daughter. Her husband, Wilfred, passed away in 2002 following a car accident. She later lived with her partner.

Rowley's neighbours reported that she hadn't been seen since Christmas. A neighbour told Daily Mail that the couple tended to keep to themselves.

Photo: West Mercia Police