A woman has been taken into custody after a man was found fatally injured at a home in Melbourne’s east, with detectives establishing a crime scene and appealing for public assistance as the investigation continues.
Emergency services were called to a property on Ranfurlie Court in Forest Hill about 2am on Wednesday, 17 June, after reports of a serious incident at the address. Police located a man at the property with injuries and began CPR, but he could not be revived.
Victoria Police said a woman who was at the home was taken into custody and is assisting investigators. Nine News reported the deceased man was 29 years old and had suffered stab wounds, and that the woman taken from the property was 23 years old and believed to be his girlfriend.
Police establish crime scene in Forest Hill
Forensic officers spent Wednesday examining the Ranfurlie Court home as detectives worked to determine the events leading up to the man’s death. Police have not announced any charges, and the matter remains under active investigation.
Authorities have said the parties are believed to be known to each other. That detail is significant in the early stages of a homicide-style investigation because it can shape the focus of police inquiries, including interviews with witnesses, a review of phone and digital records, and forensic testing of the scene. Police have not released the man’s name.
The residential street became the centre of a large police presence after the early-morning call-out. Images from the scene showed forensic personnel collecting material near a police vehicle, while investigators continued door knocks and scene examinations. Such work is often slow and methodical, particularly where detectives are trying to reconstruct a sequence of events inside a private home.
Woman assisting detectives
The woman taken into custody is assisting police with their inquiries. That phrase does not, by itself, mean a person has been charged or found responsible for an offence. In Victoria, detectives may speak with people who were present at a scene, knew the deceased, or may be able to help establish the circumstances surrounding a death.
Investigators are expected to examine what occurred before the emergency call, who else may have been at or near the property, and whether there were any earlier reports or concerns connected to the address. Police will also wait on forensic and post-mortem findings before deciding whether any charges should be laid.
The case comes amid sustained public attention on violent incidents in homes and the risks associated with disputes between people known to each other. While police have not characterised this matter beyond confirming the parties were known to each other, the death of a young man in a suburban home will likely draw close scrutiny from detectives and prosecutors.
Appeal for information
Police are urging anyone with information about the Forest Hill incident to contact Crime Stoppers. Investigators often rely on residents, motorists, rideshare drivers, delivery workers and anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage to help confirm movements around a scene in the hours before and after an incident.
Anyone who saw or heard suspicious activity around Ranfurlie Court in the early hours of Wednesday, or who has relevant footage from nearby streets, is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au.
The investigation remains ongoing, and further details are expected as detectives complete forensic work and review evidence gathered at the property.
