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# Woman in her 50s arrested on suspicion of murdering Billy McNicholl
- URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/woman-in-her-50s-arrested-on-suspicion-murdering-billy-mcnicholl/
- Published: 2025-01-11T22:16:05.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-16T15:25:45.000Z
- Description: Police investigating the murder of William McNicholl in Ipswich have arrested a woman in her 50s. The suspect is being questioned at Martlesham Police Investigation Centre.
- Author: Oliver Rouane-Williams
- Tags: News, Crime, #article, #story-billy-mcnicholl-murder, Suffolk Constabulary, #Import 2026-03-16 14:45

**Why it matters**: This marks the first arrest in the investigation into the death of McNicholl, who was found with head injuries and a single stab wound at his Hawthorn Drive home on New Year's Day.

![William "Billy" McNicholl and his dog](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/03/1736250709-billy-mcnicholl-edited-15.png)

McNicholl was found murdered at his Hawthorn Drive home on New Year's Day (Suffolk Constabulary )

**The details**:

- The arrest was made on Saturday, 11 January
- The woman is being held on suspicion of murder
- Police have now removed the cordon from the crime scene
- Officers continue to maintain an increased presence in the area

**Background**:

- McNicholl, known as Billy, was 63 years old
- His body was discovered shortly before 18:00 on 1 January
- A post-mortem revealed he died from head injuries and a single stab wound
- Suffolk Constabulary's Major Investigation Team is leading the inquiry

**What's next**: Police are still appealing for witnesses who may have noticed suspicious activity near the address between 24 December and 1 January.

**How to help**:

- Contact police on 101 quoting reference 37/162/25
- Submit information via the Major Incident Public Reporting Portal
- Call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111
- Use Crimestoppers' online form

**The bottom line**: While police have made their first arrest, they continue to seek information from the public about any suspicious activity in the Hawthorn Drive area over the Christmas and New Year period.

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