Tears for six-month-old Spencer Recto, who was found dead at Mernda home

The parents of a six-month-old baby boy found dead in Mernda have been described as “a good couple” as loved ones grieve the tragedy.

Six-month-old infant Spencer Jordan Recto was found dead at home in Mernda last week.

Friends and neighbours of Alyssa Nguyen and Ben “Beej” Recto have told the Herald Sun they are heartbroken at the death of couple’s six-month-old son at Mernda on Friday night.

Baby Spencer Jordan Recto was found dead late on Friday night and Ms Nguyen, 36, was flown to The Alfred hospital in a critical condition.

She remained in intensive care under police guard on Tuesday.

Ms Nguyen is yet to be interviewed and has not been charged with any offence, but it is understood homicide squad detectives are likely to charge her with infanticide once they have completed their investigation into the death, and into Ms Nguyen’s mental health struggles.

Alyssa Nguyen with her partner, Ben ‘Beej’ Recto. Picture: Facebook

A close friend of Ms Nguyen, who declined to be named, said she and Mr Recto were a “good couple” who had cherished their son.

Paying tribute to Spencer outside the couple’s home on Langdon Dr, the friend said he read news reports of Spencer’s death in disbelief.

The friend said Ms Nguyen was a “caring mother” but that she had endured “a bit of a struggle with mothering”.

“I can’t believe it; they’re a good couple,” the friend said.

Ms Nguyen’s family have hired a lawyer to represent her in the anticipated legal proceedings stemming from Spencer’s death.

Friends and neighbours have left tributes for Spencer Jordan Recto, after the six-month-old boy was found dead at Mernda. Picture: David Crosling

Ms Nguyen and Mr Recto moved into the four bedroom home only recently, but most residents in the street said the couple kept to themselves.

Mr Recto, a respected suburban mortgage adviser, is overwhelmed by the tragedy and is being supported by his close-knit family.

It was Mr Recto who arrived home on Friday night to find Spencer dead and Ms Nguyen barely alive.

The distraught father called triple-0 immediately.

There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on Mr Recto’s part.

Police at on scene at the house in Mernda on Saturday where the infant was found dead. Picture: David Crosling

The couple’s home is no longer a crime scene and police are not investigating anyone other than Ms Nguyen in relation to Spencer’s death.

“Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident at this stage,” police said in a statement shortly after the discovery of Spencer’s body.

Residents from the quiet neighbourhood, many of whom have young families of their own, have continued to leave tributes to Spencer at the makeshift memorial on the nature strip out the front of the home, with tributes saying he was “taken too soon” and that he was a “little angel”.