A great-grandmother executed through the front door of her Sydney home was almost certainly killed by a stranger with possible links to a maroon car captured on CCTV nearby.
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Police have ruled out any involvement by family members in the mystery murder of Helen Dawson Key, the Sun-Herald has learned.
Mrs Dawson Key, a keen lawn bowls player and highly respected community member with no known enemies, was shot once through her fly screen door after answering a knock at her Toongabbie home around 6pm on November 19.
Veteran homicide investigator David Laidlaw described it as one of the most baffling cases he has seen.
With no leads and "no idea" why the much-loved 75 year old was killed, police released images this week of an old maroon Toyota Camry seen near her Paris Place home just before her murder.
It was hoped the appeal would rule the car, with distinctive striped seat covers, in or out of their investigation.
Detectives have since been flooded with solid tip offs and Inspector Laidlaw revealed the owners of the car have not come forward.
He said they are confident the car is involved in the murder, the most promising sign yet that investigators are moving towards a solid line of inquiry.
"A lot of people have come forward and we have a lot of momentum gathering in relation to the vehicle of interest," he said. "Some information is consistent with some lines of inquiry so that's been very pleasing."
The car's number plates and occupants were not visible on camera and Inspector Laidlaw renewed his appeal for information.
Police are focusing their gaze outside Mrs Dawson Key's family but are also confident it was not a case of mistaken identity.
She had lived in her home in the quiet cul-de-sac for 30 years and the lack of transient residents in Paris Place makes it highly unlikely she was accidentally targeted, Inspector Laidlaw said.
After hitting dead ends, he said there has been "encouraging progress" this week.
The developments will provide some small relief to her family, who have pleaded for people to come forward with information, no matter how small.
"We are at a loss as to why this tragedy has taken place," niece Jenny Hitchcock said. "Aunty Helen has been taken from us in the most tragic way anyone could imagine."
She said Mrs Dawson Key, who lived alone, was devoted to her siblings, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Mrs Dawson Key's movements on the day she died are still unclear. Police said she attended a bowling function the day before and left in the mid-afternoon.
She made some phone calls on the day she died but they have not provided any leads.
When she didn't turn up for bowls the next morning, a friend visited her at home and found her body slumped inside the front door with a single gunshot wound to the head.
