£10,000 reward to catch Jenny's killer as weapon hunt widens Published on Thursday 1 March 2012 00:55 A £10,000 reward has been offered in the hunt for the killer of a widowed pensioner found murdered in her isolated cottage. The substantial reward was offered by the charity Crime-stoppers as the detective leading the murder hunt confirmed that 80-year-old Jenny Methven had been battered to death with a "blunt instrument." Mrs Methven was found slumped at her kitchen table with a bloodstained towel over her head on 20 February by her son David at the cottage they shared at Kildinny Farm on the outskirts of the Perthshire village of Forteviot. Detective Chief Inspector Colin Gall, who is heading the 70-strong investigation team from Tayside Police, said the force would be extending its search area around the cottage where Mrs Methven was killed in a bid to trace the murder weapon. He said the violence of the assault had horrified members of the community in which Mrs Methven was a popular member, regularly seen walking her spaniel dog. ""This was a brutal attack which led to the death of an elderly woman in her own home," said DCI Gall. Understandably, the public response has been one of horror and revulsion. But people, within the local community in particular, have demonstrated a real determination to assist our efforts in finding the person responsible. Thanks in no small part to the public response and the support of the media, we are building a very accurate picture of the comings and goings in Forteviot and the wider Strathearn Valley on 20 February. This is assisting our investigation greatly. ""We are extending our search efforts in and around the village, with the aim of locating further information and, potentially, the murder weapon. ""Police search advisers have joined our search-trained officers with a view to locating any evidence that could assist us. We are looking for the weapon that was used to kill Mrs Methven. We know that it is a blunt object rather than any sharp or bladed instrument. He added: "To this end we would ask people, perhaps if they are out and about walking the dog, cycling or exercising, to look out for anything that might be out of place. It's possible they might even spot something that appears bloodstained. If they have any suspicions whatsoever, they should call us."" The appeal for fresh information came after Kate Jackson, the Scottish manager of Crimestoppers, announced the charity was offering the reward of up to £10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer or killers responsible for what she described as a "despicable" murder. Ms Jackson said: "Due to the despicable actions of someone, this elderly lady has suffered a violent and unpleasant death which has left her family and friends grieving. Someone will have information about who is responsible. Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £10,000 for information on this crime that leads to an arrest and conviction so that it can be solved and bring the victim's family some form of peace.