Police are investigating the discovery of a woman's body found in an industrial part of Doveton
Rani Featherston. Picture: Facebook Source: Facebook
THE heartbroken father of a young woman found bloodied and beaten on a footpath just 500m from her home returned to the scene of the brutal murder on Thursday.
Kevin Featherston was in shock as he tried to come to grips with his loss.
His 34-year-old daughter Rani was found lying near a tree outside a factory in an industrial area on Lace St in Doveton about 7am on Wednesday.
Detectives said she had been the victim of a vicious assault and had traumatic injuries to her head and face, believed to be from a bladed weapon.
Standing in the very spot her body was found, a stony-faced Mr Featherston, with a stubby of beer in hand, shook his head as he spoke with a detective about what may have happened to her.
It was a street she had walked often — a short cut to the 24-hour service station on Princes Highway from her home on Oleander St.
But it is not known the circumstances surrounding her death.
Her killer was still on the run last night.
Mr Featherston was too upset to talk, only saying his daughter was “beautiful”.
A friend, who wished not to be named, stopped in nearby Eumemmerring Park — one that Rani would frequent often — to have a drink in her honour.
Fighting back tears, he said she was “wonderful” and “fearless” and doted on her five dogs.
He said he had arranged to meet her at 1pm on Wednesday and when she failed to show, he knew something was wrong.
“She was my best friend,” he said. “I can’t believe this has happened. We don’t know who would’ve done this, but I can say one thing: he’s a dead man walking.”
Shocked workers found the body on a nature strip halfway down Lace St, Doveton, as they arrived at work about 7am on Wednesday.
Det-Sen-Sgt Stephen McIntyre said the woman suffered cuts to her body and traumatic head and facial injuries consistent with an “edged weapon”.
Sen-Sgt McIntyre ruled out that the woman’s body had been dumped in the street.
“We believe the assault has taken place here,” he said.
“It looks like there has been some sort of struggle on the roadway and on the footpath area. “There is quite a significant amount of blood.
“It would appear to be a very violent type of assault that’s taken place.”
Sen-Sgt McIntyre said the woman wasn’t carrying any personal items.
Police are trawling through missing persons reports in a bid to identify her.
“We don’t know if she was carrying anything else with her,” Sen-Sgt McIntyre said.
“She had been wearing a pair of white slip-on shoes. They have been recovered within the scene.
“She’s wearing dark-coloured shorts and dark-coloured long-sleeved T-shirt.
“We are just appealing for information from anyone who can tell us about this person.”
Earlier Sen-Sgt McIntyre said it would be difficult to establish the circumstances surrounding her death until she was identified.
A detective takes Kevin Featherston (centre) and a friend back to the scene of Rani Featherston’s murder. Source: News Corp Australia
The woman’s body was found on a nature strip. Source: HeraldSun
A pile of clothing near the scene. Source: News Limited
Police Airwing, SES and detectives are searching the scene for clues. Source: News Limited
Sen-Sgt McIntyre said police had obtained CCTV footage that showed several vehicles entering and exiting the “no through road” street between 5.30pm when the factories closed on Tuesday to when the woman’s body was found at 7am.
No CCTV has captured the woman or her movements yet, he said.
“We’ve got a fair period of time we’re interested in,” he said.
“We don’t know what direction the girl may have come from, she may have come from across the river, or from a vehicle. These sorts if things we do not know at this point in time.”
Police Airwing has been assisting in the search, while homicide detectives and SES crews continue to scour the area for clues.
The manager of a Lace St business said the area didn’t have “the best reputation”.
He told the Herald Sun he arrived at work shortly after 7.30am.
“We had other guys leave here earlier at half past five or quarter to six and they saw nothing,” the manager said.
“It must have happened between 6am and 7am.”
He said the street, located just off the Princes Hwy, was at the back end of Doveton and known for “petty theft and drugs”.
Trojan Systems owner Sam Poole arrived at his Lace St factory to find the street cordoned off.
“It’s a bit of a shock,” he said.
“I’ve owned the factory here for over 30 years and this is the first time anything like this has happened.”
Police at the scene. Source: News Limited
Rani Featherston’s body was found halfway down Lace St, Doveton. Source: HeraldSun
The street was eerily quiet on Thursday with only the occasional delivery truck breaking the silence — a stark comparison to the day before when dozens of police and SES crews frantically searched the area for clues to the victim’s identity and her killer.
As part of investigations, homicide detectives on Thursday searched her home, which she shares with her father.
She also has two brothers — one of whom is travelling with his young family in the US.
Anyone with information about her death is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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