A “sweet and friendly” elderly woman has been identified as the woman whose body was dumped in the Maribyrnong River.
The body of 85-year-old Lolene Whitehand was found floating in the river on Sunday near Smithfield Road in Flemington, central Melbourne.
Ms Whitehand allegedly had plastic bags tied around her head and parts of her legs and was severely bruised.
The discovery of the 85-year-old woman’s body came two days after Victoria Police launched a public appeal for help finding Ms Whitehand, who was last seen at her home in Glamis Road last Friday afternoon.
It took homicide detectives three days to identify the body found in the river.
Detectives were seen searching Ms Whitehand’s home on Wednesday afternoon as uniformed officers went door-to-door questioning shocked residents.
Neighbors were shocked by the elderly woman’s allegedly violent death and remembered her as a friendly face and a lover of gardening.
Peter and Christine Spencer left a bouquet of flowers at Ms Whitehand’s single-storey home on Wednesday, where she is understood to have lived alone since her husband died a decade ago.
The body of Lolene Whitehand (pictured) was found floating in the Maribyrnong River at around 10.30am on Sunday.
Ms Whitehand’s identification comes as her alleged killer, a 49-year-old woman from Footscray West, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
“I can’t believe someone would do that to a very elderly lady who was very nice to everyone in the neighborhood,” Spencer said. Herald of the Sun.
“She was very well known in the area. Everyone greeted her and talked to her.”
Mr Spencer’s wife added: “When someone passes away in this situation there’s not much you can do so flowers were probably the best way to say we’re thinking of you.”
Ms Whitehand’s identification comes as her alleged killer, a 49-year-old woman from Footscray West, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court.
His lawyer, Sharon Healey, successfully applied to the court on Wednesday to suppress her client’s identity.
Journalists were barred from the courtroom to allow the alleged killer’s lawyer to address the magistrate in private about protecting his client.
The woman did not speak throughout the hearing, but made a notable statement as she was escorted back into custody.
The court heard she suffers from lower back pain, for which she takes panadeine forte and steroid injections.
He also takes medication for depression and anxiety.
Police believe the women knew each other.
The case is due to return to court next Tuesday, where media outlets will fight the court-imposed gag order.
Police had previously questioned a 15-year-old boy in connection with Ms Whitehand’s death but he was released without charge.
Mrs Whitehand’s neighbours were left shocked by her suspected violent death and recalled her love of gardening.
Meanwhile, detectives are continuing to appeal for anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage from the areas around Glasmis Rd in West Footscray or Smithfield Rd in Flemington near Lynchs’ Bridge between 12pm on July 12 and 10.30am on July 14 to come forward.
“Police are also interested in speaking to anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity in those areas during that time,” the statement said.
Detectives are also investigating the discovery of a man’s body, which was found floating in the same river just 90 minutes earlier in Footscray.
Police have confirmed the man’s death is not linked to Ms Whitehand’s death and is not being treated as suspicious.
The deceased man has not yet been formally identified.
Anyone with information about these incidents is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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