Father pays tribute to daughter found dead in Wyndham Vale home
The devastated father of a 16-year-old girl who was found dead in a Wyndham Vale home, has remembered his daughter as a “very caring person” following her shock death.
VIC News
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The father of a 16-year-old girl who died in mysterious circumstances inside a Melbourne home says he will always remember her caring spirit.
Leah Spengler, 16, was found dead inside a Wyndham Vale home about 10.30pm on Sunday.
A 19-year-old man believed to be her former partner who was at the Brookside Dr house at the time was arrested but was later released.
“Police have released a 19-year-old man without charge after receiving the results of a post mortem on a 16-year-old who died in Wyndham Vale,’’ Victoria Police said.
“At this stage the death is not believed to be suspicious.
“Local detectives will now take carriage of the investigation.’’
Leah’s distraught father, Andrew Spengler said news of her death “really hurt”, coming as she was striving to turn her life around.
This month, Leah told friends on Facebook that she was working towards a “new start” after a rough period in her life.
She had two sisters and lived with the family in Point Cook until about a year ago.
Her father said she would often disappear and had got involved with drugs.
But, she had recently pulled away from that lifestyle and made efforts to reconnect with her family.
“She was a little bit troubled but was a very caring person,” Mr Spengler said.
“She popped into the house about two months ago and saw her three-year-old sister. She broke into tears. She was starting to come good.”
Mr Spengler said he and Leah were once “inseparable” and she was described by loved ones as a “special girl”.
The Herald Sun has been told Leah and friends attended a local McDonald’s outlet about 8.30pm last night.
The friends later went back to the Brookside Dv property.
Police and paramedics were called to the property about 10:30pm after reports the teen was unresponsive.
Neighbours said it was a dramatic night in a normally quite street.
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Leah previously attended Alamanda College in Point Cook
Friend Jackson Hawkin wrote: “Rest In Peace Leah Spengler. Such a shame to see a young soul taken from us so early. my condolences to the family.
Homicide Squad investigators have now handed the investigation over to local detectives.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at crimestoppersvic.com.au.