Eurydice Dixon followed by killer after Highlander Bar performance, police believe
YOUNG comedian Eurydice Dixon, also known as “Ridi”, may have been stalked for 4.5km on foot all through the city and into Carlton North before being murdered in a brutal attack on a dark, lonely soccer field just 900m from her home.
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EURYDICE Dixon may have been stalked for 4.5km on foot all through the city and into Carlton North before being murdered.
Police believe the young comedian, also known as “Ridi”, was followed by her killer after her performance at the Highlander Bar, in the southern CBD.
CCTV tracking Ms Dixon’s movements after she left the bar, in Highlander Lane, to walk home is expected to play a key role in the case.
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Four hours after leaving, her body was found on a soccer field in Princes Park, just 900m from home.
Earlier, she blew a goodbye kiss to partner Tony Magnuson, telling him she felt like walking home after her gig.
He described her as a “deep soul who never took herself too seriously”.
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Managers of the Highlander Bar said on Thursday Ms Dixon had been a “remarkable, talented, kind, unique and universally loved person”.
“We are deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic news of the death of Eurydice Dixon.
“The entire staff are shattered and heartbroken. Our heart goes out to her family, the comedy community and everyone else who knew and loved her.
“She will be remembered fondly and sadly missed.
“RIP Eurydice.”
Broadmeadows man Jaymes Todd, 19, has been charged with the rape and murder of Ms Dixon after surrendering himself at Broadmeadows police station on Thursday morning.
Mr Todd remained silent, his eyes closed, during a brief hearing in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.
That court appearance came as tributes flowed for Ms Dixon.
Friend Kieran Butler said she was a talented comedian whose career had been on the up.
“She was so young. She had time on her side,” he said.
Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper, of the homicide squad, said the murder investigation had moved quickly from the moment a passer-by had found Ms Dixon’s body on the soccer field early on Wednesday.
“The involvement of the community and the media was significant (in the arrest of the suspect),” Insp Stamper said.
“They played a very significant role in us being able to solve this matter as swiftly as we have.”
STRAYING INTO KILLER’S ORBIT
Eurydice Dixon walked out from the warmth of a familiar city bar into the orbit of a stranger who would end her life.
Just 900m from her Carlton North home, she died in a brutal attack on a dark, lonely soccer field.
Homicide detectives moved swiftly in the hours after a passer-by made the awful discovery of her body at 2.40am on Wednesday.
They said little about the death or its cause as they worked against the clock to catch a random killer.
After making an informal identification, detectives set about tracing Ms Dixon’s final movements.
They established she had been at the Highlander Bar, in Highlander Lane, where she performed comedy shows and was a regular, popular presence. She had left at 10.30pm, reportedly in good spirits.
But somewhere at the southern end of the CBD, she is believed to have caught the attention of her killer.
Investigators, through a number of means including CCTV, were able to track her route through the city.
The presence of one particular unidentified individual is believed to have caused them some concern.
It is unclear at what point in her trip home Ms Dixon realised she was in danger.
On Wednesday night, 16 hours after her body was found, investigators released images of a man captured on a CBD safety camera.
It showed a burly young fellow in a hoodie standing on a city footpath, perhaps waiting for public transport.
Police did not point the finger, merely stating that he could assist their inquiries.
By Thursday morning Mr Todd had presented himself at his local police station.
Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper said the case had progressed swiftly after Ms Dixon’s body was discovered.
“The involvement of the community and the media was significant. They played a very significant role in us being able to solve this matter as swiftly as we have,” he said.
Insp. Stamper said a sexual assault nearby in Parkville on March 28 was not believed to be connected to Ms Dixon’s murder.
“At this stage, we are quite confident the two matters are unrelated; however, we will keep an open mind … Unfortunately that leaves us with the prospect that there is still an outstanding offender.”
Insp. Stamper said that the laying of charges over the death was “the start for us … there is obviously a lot that has got to be done now.”
He said people needed to be aware of their personal safety: “Just be mindful of their surroundings, everywhere. If you have any concerns at any time, call triple-0.
“We would rather have too many calls than too few.”
Detectives are keen to hear from anybody who may have dashcam footage from the area in Carlton North where Ms Dixon’s body was found.
“If there are members of the public who do have information or footage from dashcams, from CCTV, please call Crime Stoppers,” Insp. Stamper said.
Police are interested in speaking with people who have any such footage taken between 11pm on Tuesday and 3am on Wednesday.
A GoFundMe page, under the title Princes Park Victim Fund, has been set up to raise money for Ms Dixon’s family.
It quickly surpassed its $1000 goal, reaching more than $23,000 as of Thursday evening.