Cambridge Woman Killed

A 54-year-old woman was found dead Saturday morning in her Cambridge apartment after she was apparently struck repeatedly with a blunt instrument, police said.

Rosalie Whalen was found by her husband, Dennis Whalen, when he returned to the couple's Elm Street residence around 10:30 a.m. after running errands, Cambridge police Detective Frank Pasquarello said.

The Middlesex County Medical Examiner performed an autopsy on Rosalie Whalen yesterday, police said. The results will be made public today.

Cambridge and state police yesterday continued to hunt for clues on the ground surrounding the Whalens' first-floor apartment. Authorities said they did not have a suspect in the case, which is being treated as a homicide.

Pasquarello said several family members and neighbors had been interviewed in the case, and several pieces of evidence were removed from the apartment following a search of the premises.

Detective Jim Dwyer, one of three officials on the scene yesterday afternoon,said there were no signs of forced entry into theapartment.

Police would not comment on what might havecaused the blunt trauma to Whalen's head, but theBoston Globe reported that a hammer removed fromthe scene was being tested in connection with thehomicide.

Police said the Whalens had lived at their ElmStreet address for at least 10 years. The Whalens'daughter, who lives with the couple, was not athome when the body was found, police said.

No neighbors who knew the Whalens were homeyesterday afternoon, and little information wasavailable about the couple.

Neighbors who were home said yesterday thatnothing like this homicide has ever happenedbefore on their street, which separates NorthCambridge from Somerville.

Edward J. Boudro, who has lived four doors downfrom the Whalens for eight years, said he haswitnessed an increase in crime in the neighborhoodsince the installation of the Davis Square MBTAstop in the 1980s.

"Things have been getting a little rowdy,"Boudro said. "The inner city can come into theneighborhood." Boudro said he and at least twoother Elm Street residents have had windowssmashed recently by rocks.

William P. Marsan, who also lives on ElmStreet, said neighborhood residents mostly keep tothemselves. "It's quiet besides the traffic," hesaid

Police would not comment on what might havecaused the blunt trauma to Whalen's head, but theBoston Globe reported that a hammer removed fromthe scene was being tested in connection with thehomicide.

Police said the Whalens had lived at their ElmStreet address for at least 10 years. The Whalens'daughter, who lives with the couple, was not athome when the body was found, police said.

No neighbors who knew the Whalens were homeyesterday afternoon, and little information wasavailable about the couple.

Neighbors who were home said yesterday thatnothing like this homicide has ever happenedbefore on their street, which separates NorthCambridge from Somerville.

Edward J. Boudro, who has lived four doors downfrom the Whalens for eight years, said he haswitnessed an increase in crime in the neighborhoodsince the installation of the Davis Square MBTAstop in the 1980s.

"Things have been getting a little rowdy,"Boudro said. "The inner city can come into theneighborhood." Boudro said he and at least twoother Elm Street residents have had windowssmashed recently by rocks.

William P. Marsan, who also lives on ElmStreet, said neighborhood residents mostly keep tothemselves. "It's quiet besides the traffic," hesaid