Homicide Squad investigates after woman’s body found in South Melbourne
Mystery surrounds the discovery of the body of a 26-year-old woman in a South Melbourne home on Monday and now the Homicide Squad is treating her death as suspicious.
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Police are remaining tight-lipped as to the circumstances surrounding the death of a woman in South Melbourne today.
Police were called to Park St just after 2pm on Monday afternoon where they found the body of the 26-year-old woman.
Detectives and forensic officers spent Tuesday combing the two-storey property and neighbouring yards, before leaving almost 24-hours after the yet-to-be-identified woman was found.
Nearby gardens and bins were also searched and CCTV taken from homes across the street.
Police investigators could be seen focusing on the driveway of the home, which is one of three units at the back of an old-style apartment complex.
Two seperate apartment blocks are on the property searched by police.
One detective inspected a letterbox at the front of the two properties and appeared to pull out a set of keys.
A number of other bags of evidence were also collected.
It is understood one avenue police may be probing is whether the woman had been at the home for a few days before her body was found.
Victoria Police Senior Constable Adam West said the exact circumstances surrounding the woman’s death were yet to be determined.
Homicide Squad detectives detectives are treating the woman’s death as suspicious.
Investigators are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in Park and Ferrars streets over the previous week.
Police have said there was no known risk to public safety.
“The death is being treated as suspicious however police do not believe there is any evidence to suggest there is any ongoing risk to residents or the wider community,” a Victoria Police spokeswoman said.
“Investigators expect to release further details in coming hours or days as circumstances become clearer.”
One neighbour, who gave his name as Aaron, said he was heading out for a walk on Monday afternoon and was confronted by the lights of emergency vehicles and police tape.
“I was pretty surprised to see this kind of thing had happened,” he said.
“I know pretty much everyone on this block.
“(Last night) I went for a nightly walk and saw all the traffic (police, ambulance).
“It’s pretty scary when you have kids like I do.”
Detectives yesterday took copies of Aaron’s CCTV hard drive to aid with their investigation, but did not give an exact timeframe as to when the incident may have occurred.
Anastasia Kailis, who lives in Park St, said she woke to loud noises after midnight on Monday.
“There was a lot of noise as if bins were being thrown around, rubbish being thrown around, car doors opening and closing,” she said.
“(It was) as if someone was going into a huge big suitcase and throwing everything out.
“It was most unusual.”
Ms Kailis said despite the noise, she did not hear any voices.
“I looked through the window... (but) there wasn’t any screaming or yelling,” she said.
“It’s traditionally a really quiet street.”
Nearby gardens and the front yards of neighbours were also searched, with detectives looking through bins.
Animal management officers, from Port Phillip Council, were also called to remove a small animal from the home.
Forensic officers, who have been combing the scene and removing bags of evidence all day, left about 1.30pm, with a team of crime scene cleaners arriving shortly after.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online via crimestoppersvic.com.au.
More to come
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