By Erin Pearson
A tribute to Samantha Fraser left outside her Cowes home.Credit: Seven News
Dash cam footage and CCTV video from seaside homes may be key to the investigation into the suspicious death of a mother-of-three thathas left a tight-knit Victorian community in mourning.
Samantha Fraser, 38, was found dead in the garage of her Cowes home on Phillip Island on Monday. Police believe foul play was involved and a post mortem found that she had been assaulted.
Ms Fraser was meant to attend anappointment at noon on Monday but failed to appear. Her final moments remain a mystery.
The family home in Seagrove Way, Cowes, where mother of three Samantha Fraser was found dead.Credit: Eddie Jim
Her body was found four hours later in the garage of her home after she failed to pick up her children from a local primary school.
“Unfortunately she was not here to pick her children up at school which prompted the school at about 3.30pm to contact the police,” Detective Sergeant Steve Sheahan told reporters on Friday.
Her children are now in the care of their grandparents.
Police have appealed for anyone who may have CCTV or dash cam footage from the vicinity of Ms Fraser's home around the time of her death to come forward.
Tributes continued to flow on Saturday for the much-loved localand flowers have been placed at the Cowes Cultural Centre.
Community members held a vigil on Saturday night to honour a life they said wasdedicated to helping others.
“I send my deepest sympathies to Samantha's family,” Marian Orr posted online. "As a friend and work colleague for many years we enjoyed many a laugh together.
“Who could forget your beautiful smile, and of course, those killer heels and handbags.
“You touched the life of so many. The world is now a sadder place.”
Ms Fraser, a psychologist who worked several days a week at Cowes Medical Centre, was a popular part of her close-knit community who affectionately call themselves “islanders”.
Detective Sergeant Stephen Sheahan said on Friday that investigators had spoken to a number of people in relation to Ms Fraser's death, and that a 42-year-old man remained a person of interest in the ongoing investigation.
It's understood this man was a former partner of Ms Fraser. The Paynesville man has been questioned by police in relation to her death but released without charge.
Police are also investigating whether the crime scene was tampered with.
Ms Fraser, who had lived at the property for four years, recently changed the locks at her home and had expressed fears for her safety in recent months.
It is believed her parents had been living with her but they were overseas at the time of her death.