Premier Jacinta Allan says ‘this has to stop’ after woman’s body found in Cobram home

A woman whose body was found in a Cobram home has been remembered as “warm and loving” as police probe the circumstances surrounding her death.

A woman found dead in a Cobram home has been remembered as “warm and loving”.

Homicide Squad detectives are investigating after Emma Bates’ body was found in her Campbell Rd home in the state’s north.

Emergency services were called to the property about 2.15pm Tuesday, where they found the 49-year-old’s body.

Police are working to establish the exact circumstances around Ms Bates’ death and the investigation remains ongoing.

Kylie Justice told the Herald Sun Ms Bates had been her parents’ neighbour for “many years”.

Police found a woman’s body at a property on Campbell Rd in Cobram. Picture: Oscar Jaeger.

“She always helped my elderly parents and had a huge heart, was warm and loving,” she said.

“I’m in total shock that something like this could happen to such a beautiful soul.”

A 39-year-old Cobram man — believed to be known to Ms Bates — is in custody and assisting police with their inquiries.

There is heavy police presence on Campbell Rd in Cobram on Wednesday, after they found a 49-year-old woman’s body. Picture: Oscar Jaeger.

Speaking to the media Wednesday morning, Jacinta Allan pleaded with every Victorian to call out bad behaviour towards women, warning that speaking up could save a life.

The Premier, speaking broadly because the exact circumstances of the death had not yet been determined, said too many women had been killed this year.

“They’ve lost their life, either at the hands of a current or former partner or they’ve lost their life at the hands of a complete stranger who seemed intent on inflicting harm against women,” she said.

“This has to stop.”

Police leave the scene in Cobram. Picture: Oscar Jaeger

Ms Allan called on every Victorian to take action by challenging disrespectful behaviour towards women.

“We’ve all got a leadership opportunity here,” she said.

“If we see disrespect being shown we’ve got to call it out. We’ve got to say that it’s wrong because by doing that, you never know, it might just save a life.”

Jacinta Allan says she’s ‘determined’ to ensure woman can safely live in Victoria.

Women killed in Australia this year.

Ms Allan said she was “determined” to take action to ensure women could safely live in Victoria.

“I’m determined to look at what more we can do to strengthen the work here,” she said.

“We know as a government we need to do more. Governments around the country need to do more. We need to look at our programs, we need to look at our systems, we need to look at our legal systems about how we can strengthen the support for women.

“We have programs in our schools to help kids understand at the earliest age why it’s important to have respect for women and what happens when you don’t. Because what happens when you don’t is you see too many women continuing to lose their life.

“This is something we all have a responsibility to do – in our daily lives, in our families, in our workplaces and when we’re out socialising.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online here.