Windsor police have launched a homicide investigation after the death of a 63-year-old woman in an apartment in west Windsor.

Officers responded to the apartment at 591 Wellington Ave. for a report of a deceased woman on Saturday around 7:30 p.m.

When police arrived, officers located and confirmed a deceased woman was at the location.

Jade Joncas tells CTV News she's scared to live in the building.

"I'm petrified,” admits Joncas. “I am for sure scared because if somebody can do something like that to an old lady, they're capable of anything."

Officers canvassed the area and a number of witnesses were interviewed as members of the Forensic Identification Unit processed the scene.

Police say the deceased woman was transported from the scene and an autopsy was conducted.

As a result of information gathered, the case was classified as a homicide.

Police say the deceased has been identified as a 63-year-old woman from Windsor, who resided at the involved apartment and the next of kin has been notified.

Police are not releasing her name, but neighbours have identified the victim as Miss Butterfield.

Joncas says she's the one who called police.

"I called at 7:30 p.m. when I noticed the smell coming from her window," says Joncas. "I brought the dog up, I came down, I told my boyfriend like the smell that we've been smelling for days is coming from Miss Butterfield's window. I had then came back down, went to her window and said Miss Butterfield, Miss Butterfield are you okay, no response, no nothing."

That is when Joncas says she had a friend go with her and they found the victim dead in her bed.

“It was a sight that I’ll never want to see again.”

Joncas says Butterfield was a nice lady who kept to herself, and residents never saw her unless she was going to her mailbox.

Her death is the first homicide of 2019 in Windsor after there were nine murder investigations and one manslaughter case in 2018.

The Major Crimes Branch is actively continuing the investigation.

Sergeant Steve Betteridge says the community can expect an increased police presence in the area as the investigation progresses.

“In a homicide investigation, that is a very slow and methodical investigation where we piece together every little piece of evidence and sometimes the slightest bit of information can greatly assist in this case," says Betteridge.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Windsor Police Service at 519-255-6700 ext. 4830, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 519-258-8477 (TIPS), or online at www.catchcrooks.com.