A Melbourne woman is accused of murdering her elderly neighbour and dumping her body in a river, raking in $2,000 worth of stolen goods.
The alleged motive for the death of 85-year-old widow Lolene Whitehand was revealed a day after a Melbourne court lifted a secrecy order preventing the identification of her alleged killer.
Police allege 49-year-old Melbourne mother Milena Bogojevska knew Ms Whitehand, who lived on the same street in West Footscray, before she murdered her on July 12.
Detectives allege Bogojevska entered her neighbour’s home on Glamis Road “as an intruder … with the intent to steal”, before fleeing with $2,000 in cash, jewellery and other personal belongings.
It is not yet clear whether Ms Whitehead disturbed Bogojevska during the alleged home invasion or whether the goods were stolen after her alleged death.
Ms Whitehead’s body was found floating in the Maribyrnong River at Flemington on July 14.
Her body was reportedly found with her head and parts of her feet wrapped in plastic, and what appeared to be significant bruising on her left arm.
Bogojevska was arrested two days later and charged with the murder of Ms Whitehead, before appearing in court via video link from the women’s prison in Dakar.I Phyllis Frost Center.
Milena Bogojevska has been charged with the murder of an elderly widow
A 15-year-old boy was also arrested, but later released without charge.
The court was closed when Bogojevska made her first appearance in court, as her lawyers successfully attempted to conceal her name and other identifying information.
But that suppression was lifted Tuesday afternoon during another closed hearing.
After the court reopened, Judge Stephen Ballek gave prosecutors 12 weeks to compile evidence against the 49-year-old, including CCTV footage and forensic material.
Bogojevska sat half-slumped in a chair, watching the events unfold from the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre women’s prison.
The magistrate noted that Bogojevska required steroid injections while in custody due to persistent nerve damage in her lower back.
Lolene Whitehand’s body was found dumped in Melbourne’s Maribyrnong River over the weekend
The widow’s body was found in the Maribyrnong River at Flemington. Pictured are police at the scene
She also needed medications such as Lexapro and Valium for her diagnosed depression and anxiety, Mr. Ballek noted.
He remanded Bogojevska back to court in Melbourne to appear for a preliminary hearing in November.
She has not filed a request for bail.
Earlier on Tuesday, Bogojevska pleaded guilty to charges of robbery and arson stemming from two incidents in July and August 2023.
She admitted stealing a woman’s handbag containing $8,000 worth of items from a car in West Footscray.
She also set fire to another person’s car, which also damaged a nearby telephone pole.
Bogojevski was found guilty and sentenced to seven days in prison for the 2023 incidents.