Hundreds gather to pay respects to slain Phillip Island mum Samantha Fraser
HUNDREDS of people have gathered to pay their respects at a Phillip Island vigil for slain mum Samantha Fraser, with her father Trevor revealing he and his wife had applied for custody of her three children, and asked the community for help to bring their “remarkable” daughter justice.
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HUNDREDS have turned up to pay their respects to a vigil to Samantha Fraser.
Her father Trevor Fraser thanked the community for their support and revealed he and wife Janine had been overseas when they heard the news.
“There’s really not much we can say at a time like this,” Trevor Fraser said.
“(I’m) too emotional to have too much to say.
“We were in New York visiting my son when the news came through.
“We came home as quick as we could.”
Mr Fraser revealed his wife Janine was staying in Melbourne with Samantha’s three children.
“We don’t know what the future holds.
“We’ve applied for custody of them ourselves.”
Trevor Fraser said his daughter Samantha was captain and dux of her college.
“When she was in year 12 and they chose her to be a captain of 1100 (students)...the principal said to me there was no one else, there were no other options,” he said.
“She then went on to be Dux of the college.
“She truly was a remarkable woman, a remarkable mother and a remarkable daughter.
“Thank you for standing up for Samantha.”
“If anyone can help us in anyway enabling us to bring her justice, the person who created this travesty, then please come forward.”
Earlier today it was revealed the mum-of-three, who was found dead in her Cowes home, feared for her safety in the months before her suspected murder.
Samantha Fraser, 38, told friends she felt unsafe and recently had the locks changed at her home.
She shared her fears with close friend and colleague, Alice Bradley, who said Samantha had received “threats” and lived with her parents for protection.
“She felt unsafe a lot of the time. She had done lots of things to make things safe for her and the children like changing the locks,” Ms Bradley said.
A local handyman confirmed to the Herald Sun her Seagrove Way home underwent security upgrades about a month ago.
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Homicide Squad Detective Sergeant Stephen Sheahan confirmed the mother died of assault injuries.
He told the community they should not be fearful for their safety.
“I don’t have a concern for the safety of the community here,” he said.
It is understood the man questioned by police was Samantha’s ex-partner and that he remains a person of interest.
Asked if police thought the scene had been tampered with, Det Sen Sheahan said more would be known after forensic testing.
“It’s something we are considering,” he said.
He wouldn’t confirm if the suspected killer forced themselves into the victim’s home, or used a weapon to carry out the fatal attack.
Police found Samantha Fraser’s body in the garage of her home during a welfare check on Monday, after the Cowes woman failed to pick up her three children, aged between five and nine, from their local primary school.
The 38-year-old was a highly regarded psychologist at the town’s local clinic — Cowes Medical Centre.
The reason why it took four days to make the suspicious death public also remains unclear.
Bass region Acting Inspector Peter Fusinato assured the community they were doing everything they can to get answers.
“There’s no indication that the community is in danger,” he said.
He said her death was a huge loss to the community.
TIGHT-KNIT TOWN ROCKED BY DEATH
THE suspected murder of the mother-of-three has “destroyed” a close-knit community.
Ms Bradley said her death was “an absolute shock” and the town was “devastated” and “destroyed”.
“Sam was a beautiful woman,” she told the Herald Sun.
“She was incredibly kind, nurturing and talented.”
A floral tribute is quickly growing in the centre of town, as locals grapple with Samantha’s shock death.
White ribbons have also been left at the memorial site.
Ms Fraser was a full-time mum before accepting a job at the medical centre.
She had been working as a psychologist for two years and formed “many friendships” with her colleagues.
“Sam was articulate and passionate about everything she did,” Ms Bradley said.
“We are all in shock. the whole town is. We didn’t see this coming.
“It’s heartbreaking, especially for her children.”
Samantha was at her trendy local cafe, G’Day Tiger on Main St, enjoying a long black with girlfriends hours before her death.
Next-door neighbour Toni Smith said Samantha’s parents had been living with her and her three children in their Seagrove Way home until about a week before her suspected murder.
They had left to visit her brother in New York when her body was found.
They have since rushed home to be with their grandchildren.
Ms Smith said Samantha was “a sweetie” who adored her children.
“I would sometimes pop over for a coffee. She was beautiful,” she told the Herald Sun.
She said the whole town, 140km southeast of Melbourne, had “gone crazy” with grief and worry since her body was discovered on Monday.
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Close friend Nadine Leed said she cannot imagine a life without Samantha.
“Her sincerity, genuine love and care and her patient and honest has left an imprint on my heart,” she wrote in a tribute.
“We shared such a beautiful friendship that I will cherish and treasure forever.”
Property inspector Rob Cameron was working at the property next door the day of Samantha’s death.
He said he didn’t witness anything suspicious.
“We are concerned that whoever did this is still out there. We need to catch them,” he said.
Police are investigating whether someone interfered with the Seagrove Way crime scene.
They are pleading with the public to come forward if they have information.
After Samantha dropped her kids to school and had coffee with friends the day of her death, she said she had a midday appointment, but failed to show up for it.
Her movements between 11am to 3.30pm are crucial to the investigation, say police.
“Detectives are keen to speak to anyone who may have been seen entering the Seagrove Way property on the day of Samantha’s death, or anyone who noticed any suspicious activity around her property over the previous days,” a spokesman said.
Police are appealing for CCTV footage from Seagrove Way and the surrounding streets on the day of Samantha’s death.
They also want dashcam footage taken from across Phillip Island.
Ms Bradley has launched a fundraising page to help support her family and children.
Anyone with information or with footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.