41-year-old woman arrested over the death of a boy in Tootgarook

A 41 year-old woman in Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula has been arrested over the death of an eight year-old boy.

Police investigate the death in Tootgarook. Picture: Mark Stewart

An eight-year old boy has been found dead yesterday at a home on Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula and a 41-year-old woman has been arrested in ­connection to his death.

Homicide Squad investigators raced to Tootgarook, 80km from Melbourne’s CBD, after paramedics found the body of a young boy shortly after 1.30pm yesterday.

Local police arrived at the house shortly after paramedics arrived and arrested the woman.

“It is believed that both parties were known to each other,” a police spokesman said. “Police are yet to establish the exact ­circumstances surrounding the death; however, it is being treated as suspicious at this stage.”

There were reports yesterday that paramedics had been called out after someone in the house had suffocated. The 588sq m property is rented but it is listed for sale and was set to be opened up for new buyers this weekend.

Neighbours told Fairfax ­reporters they were shocked by the crime scene on their seaside street yesterday as it is mostly populated by people with ­holiday homes.

“I’m really surprised ... It’s a really good street,” Mauro Salce, who owns a local spare parts business on Alma St, said.

Royston Churchill has lived on the street for 47 years and told reporters he had “never seen anything like that around here”.

Another woman, who was not named, said she had seen the family who lived in the Alma Street house but she had not heard of any problems. “The police have already been around. I feel sick,” she told Fairfax.

Police are currently not looking for anyone else in relation to the boy’s death. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.