Bizarre twist to the tragic mystery of the two bodies found floating minutes apart in Melbourne’s Maribyrnong River
The bodies of a man and a woman found floating in Melbourne’s Maribyrnong River within minutes of each other are not believed to be connected, but a murder hunt has begun.
A member of the public first spotted the man’s body in the water at Saltriver Place in Footscray, west of Melbourne, around 9am on Sunday.
About 90 minutes later, another passerby found the body of a woman about a kilometre downstream, just off Smithfield Rd in Flemington.
On Monday, a Victoria Police spokesperson confirmed Detectives believe the deaths are unrelated.
“At this time there is no connection between the woman’s death and that of the man whose body was also found in the Maribyrnong River yesterday morning,” police said in a statement.
The homicide squad is now investigating the woman’s death.
“This death is considered suspicious,” the police spokesperson said.
“We are still discussing the situation with the next of kin and will provide further updates as soon as we are able to do so.”
Victoria Police said a member of the public first spotted the man’s body in the water at Saltriver Place in Footscray around 9am on Sunday (pictured: police at the scene)
About 90 minutes later, another passerby found the body of a woman in the water near Smithfield Rd in Flemington
Although a murder investigation has now been launched into the woman’s death, police now believe that the man did not die under suspicious circumstances.
“Enquiries are underway to identify the man, but at this early stage it does not appear to be a suspicious death,” the spokesperson said.
Footage from the crime scene shows police and forensic investigators taking photographs of the woman’s body on the riverbank.
A local fisherman came across the woman’s body after seeing what appeared to be trash floating on his line.
The man, who asked to remain anonymous, said the woman’s head was covered with rags and a “blue cloth,” and plastic garbage bags were tied around her feet.
He also said he noticed a large bruise on his arm.
“I went closer and thought it was just a dummy – I hoped it was just a dummy,” he told the Herald Sun.
Witnesses or anyone with CCTV/dashcam footage are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.