EXCLUSIVE
The body of a man found floating in Melbourne’s Maribyrnong River has been identified, an hour before the body of an elderly woman was found in the same waterway.
Colombian national Diego Alejandro Baron, 20, was found dead on Sunday morning, before Lolene Whitehand, 85, was found wrapped in plastic an hour later.
Initially, it was believed that the two deaths were related, but it was later ruled to be a sad coincidence.
Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Mr Baron, who moved to Australia just a year ago to build a better life for himself, was recently reported missing by concerned friends and family.
His death is not believed to be suspicious.
TO GoFundMe The page set up to raise funds for the repatriation of his body revealed the pain experienced by Barón’s loved ones after his disappearance last week.
“The alarm bells rang and we all started to mobilize to help his family and find Diego,” wrote organizer Diego Armando Duque Yoscua.
“Unfortunately, in our helplessness, we were unable to give the good news to his family in Colombia. Diego had been found dead.
‘IWhat matters now is that Diego can rest in eternity in the warmth of our country and the love of his family, who once again asks us for help.’
The body of Diego Alejandro Barón, 20, was found floating in the same river as an alleged murder victim
“We all know that the repatriation of a deceased person is a long and costly process, which is why we continue to help his family in this pain that not only distresses one family,” the online appeal states.
Ms Whitehand was found floating in the river about a kilometre from Mr Baron’s body, near Smithfield Road in Flemington, in Melbourne’s central west.
The widow was reportedly found with plastic bags tied around her head and parts of her legs, and was severely bruised.
Ms Whitehand’s family had reported her missing on July 12, sparking a search by concerned neighbours and police.
When a fisherman found a body two days later, neighbors speculated it might be Whitehand’s, but the possibility initially seemed remote because the body was 6 kilometers from his home.
“That would be too much for her. She’s very independent, very sweet, but very small,” a friend posted before Whitehand’s identity was confirmed.
“She’s been missing for too long now.”
The body of Lolene Whitehand (pictured) was found floating in the Maribyrnong River at around 10.30am on Sunday.
The alleged killer of Ms Whitehand, a 49-year-old woman from Footscray West, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, police arrested a 49-year-old woman, who is not related to Ms. Whitehand, and charged her with the elderly woman’s murder.
A 15-year-old boy was also questioned by police but later released without charge.
The alleged perpetrator appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday charged with one count of murder as Ms Whitehand’s horrific fate was confirmed.
Judge Stephen Ballek warned the media not to publish the name or photograph of the accused woman, a provisional suppression order that cannot be challenged by the media until Tuesday of next week.
Police have not yet revealed why or how they believe Ms Whitehead was allegedly killed.
“It’s all incomprehensible,” one resident posted on social media. “I can’t understand it.”
Neighbours and supporters continue to leave floral tributes outside the Glamis Road home of Ms Whitehand, who has been described as a “jewel to the Footscray community”.
“She lived just down the road from me and was always in her garden greeting my baby and I on our walks,” one neighbour said in an online tribute.
“She was a very kind woman and I can’t believe someone could do this.”
Others recalled Ms Whitehand venturing into the local thrift store to chat or get a haircut with her sister.
Ms Whitehand is understood to have lived alone in her single-storey home after her husband John died about a decade ago, and was once a carer for her sister, who lived in nearby Yarraville.
Contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636