BERRYDALE, FLORIDA - Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Deputies are investigating the murder of a Milton woman .

87-year-old Bonnie Lewis was found dead in her home on Lewis Road around 8:30 Tuesday night...

Family members found Lewis and called for help..

Channel Three's Bill Pearson has been following the latest developments in the murder investigation.

Max Mccormick grew up around the Lewis family and has very fond memories of Bonnie Lewis.

Max: "Ever since I was old enough to know anybody I used to go to church with her"

Sheriffs investigators are treating Bonnie's death as a homicide.

A reality that's very tough for Max to believe

Max: "That's very shocking I cant hardly believe it I know my mom will be shocked when I tell her"

Investigators have gone through Bonnie's home looking for clues...

They're also looking around this property just down the street.

Max says it belongs to a son of Bonnie's.

Max: I don't know, he's just like everybody else he's had his troubles and his ups and downs

The sheriffs office will not say how this property could be connected to the case, but authorities do want to reassure the community that this is not a random crime

Scott Haines/Sheriffs Office: Its an extremely sad situation however we don't want the rest of the community

To feel there is someone out there that's preying on elderly people

Several people who know the Lewis family say that until there are more answers in this case they'll continue to offer the family their thoughts and prayers

Max : Just hang in there and hold onto your religion im frankly quite speechless, I don't know what to say.

The investigators returned to Betty Lewis' home this afternoon... Where they're still working the crime scene....

Sheriff's office investigators hope to make an announcement on developments in the case later today....Berrydale Murder Investigation