HOMICIDE squad detectives are still searching for a dark SUV after the death of a Sunshine woman whose body was dumped on the side of the road in Sunshine early on Saturday morning.
The body of the 51-year-old woman was found dumped on the pavement in Whitty St soon after 6am on Saturday, 3 March, after what police say could have been a botched abduction attempt.
Detective Sergeant Wayne Woltsche, from the homicide squad, said the woman was hit by a dark SUV at the Withers St carpark, her body taken about 500 metres and then dumped on the pavement in Whitty St.
He said police had not ruled out the possibility that the woman’s death was accidental, but he said that police were investigating any possible motive for murder.
“We’re keeping our mind open about a hit-run accident – where it could have been an accident and this person’s panicked and driven away – but we’re also keeping in mind that it may have been an attempted abduction,” he said.
Police said they were finding it difficult getting personal information on the victim.
They said she worked in a West Footscray clothing factory but had no relatives living in Melbourne.
“She was a bit of a recluse, just worked and didn’t socialise,” Det Sgt Woltsche said on Monday.
Det Sgt Woltsche said police had spoken to two witnesses who had seen the dark vehicle and the woman at the site of the initial accident.
But he urged anyone who might have seen a dark SUV in the Whitty St area on Saturday morning to contact Crime Stoppers.
The woman’s name had not been released at time of print, although it was expected to be released in the next few days.
