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Shocked neighbors recall East Dundee murder victim

The neighbors of an 85-year-old East Dundee woman who was stabbed to death Friday night remembered her as a sweet woman who will be dearly missed.

Mildred “Dodie” Darrington lived alone at her home on the 100 block of Aldis Drive until she was killed.

Pete Collingbourne, who lived next door to Darrington for 20 years, said his family would take dinner over to her almost every Sunday night.

“She was like a mom to me,” Collingbourne said Sunday night. “We had her over for Thanksgiving and Christmas.”

Cynthia Collingbourne, Pete's 19-year-old daughter, said Darrington was like a third grandmother to her and her brother, Mark, 21.

East Dundee Police are investigating Darrington's death, but some neighbors said they weren't satisfied with the department's communication with the neighborhood.

Beth Cook, who lived next door to Darrington for the last four years, said police have not spent enough time talking to the neighborhood. Cook said she received a call from an investigator on Saturday who said that her neighbor was deceased. Cook said it was only after she called back was she told which neighbor it was and that Darrington had been murdered.

“The police have told us we are not in danger, but they don't have a suspect,” Cook said. “You can't have it both ways.”

East Dundee police could not be reached for comment on Sunday afternoon, and they issued no news releases updating the case.

Many neighbors said they are shocked that a slaying would happen in their neighborhood.

Pete Collingbourne said his family used to sleep with the windows and doors unlocked but didn't feel they could do that anymore.

“This is Dundee, this doesn't happen in Dundee,” Pete Collingbourne said.

Jim Miller, who lives on the 600 block of Braeburn, said he had lived in the neighborhood for 61 years and didn't remember anyone ever being murdered there.

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