MARIBYRNONG & HOBSONS BAY
Home » News » Woman charged after body discovered in Maribyrnong River

Woman charged after body discovered in Maribyrnong River

Police have arrested two people in relation to the discovery of a woman’s body in the Maribyrnong River on Sunday morning.

The woman’s body was found by a passerby about 10.30am on July 14 near Smithfield Road, Flemington.

Detectives arrested a 49-year-old West Footscray woman along with a 15-year-old West Footscray boy yesterday as part of their investigation.

The 49-year-old woman was charged with murder and is due to face the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday, while the 15-year-old boy was released without charge.

The pair are believed to have known the deceased woman, who has not been formally identified at this stage.

Investigators are seeking anyone with CCTV or dash-cam footage from the areas around Glamis Road in West Footscray or Smithfield Road, Flemington near Lynch’s Bridge, between 12pm on Friday, July 12 and 10.30am on Sunday, July 14.

Police are also interested in speaking with anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity in those areas during that time.

The discovery of a man’s body in the Maribyrnong River on Sunday morning is also being investigated but is not linked to West Footscray woman’s death.

The man is yet to be formally identified, however police are not currently treating his death as suspicious.

Digital Editions


  • Fire sparks union tunnel concerns

    Fire sparks union tunnel concerns

    West Gate Tunnel operator Transurban has insisted it is safe to use, despite an incident last month which the firefighters union said was more evidence…

More News

  • Additional health test for newborns

    Additional health test for newborns

    Victoria has become the first Australian jurisdiction to include sickle cell disease in its newborn health screening program. This expansion brings the total number of rare but serious conditions covered…

  • Residents encouraged to mind water usage

    Residents encouraged to mind water usage

    Residents across Melbourne’s north west are being called upon to reduce their water consumption as state storage levels fall to 61% of capacity. This current level marks a decrease from…

  • Testing the limits of wearable tech

    Testing the limits of wearable tech

    Smartwatches and other wearable devices are ubiquitous in the world of sport and fitness. But how accurate are their measurements when other variables are in play? That’s exactly what Deakin…

  • Aussie kids salt risk

    Aussie kids salt risk

    Research from Deakin University has suggested most Australian children are at risk of developing high blood pressure at a younger age due to eating too much salt. In a new…

  • Renewable energy soars

    Renewable energy soars

    Energy and Resources Minister Lily D’Ambrosio has announced that Victoria has exceeded its 2025 renewable energy target. Ms D’Ambrosio said renewables accounted for 44.6 per cent of the state’s electricity…

  • Altona’s $80 million man

    Altona’s $80 million man

    An Altona man has become Victoria’s biggest ever lottery winner by taking home the entire $80 million jackpot in Thursday’s Powerball draw. “Oh my god! Are you joking?!” the retiree…

  • Aery’s big moment

    Aery’s big moment

    At just 16, Druids’ Ira Aery is doing battle with some of the best cricketers in Australia. The teenager’s game has gone from strength to strength the past 12 months,…

  • Funding to improve road safety across Victoria

    Funding to improve road safety across Victoria

    Victorian community organisations and groups will receive a total of $600,000 in grants from the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) to develop and implement local road safety projects. The funding, part…

  • Celebrity alcohol ads slip into teens’ Insta feeds

    Celebrity alcohol ads slip into teens’ Insta feeds

    Celebrities are promoting their own alcohol products on Instagram without clear disclosure of advertising content and almost all posts are visible to underage users, according to new research from La…

  • New toolkit to help women report abuse in sport

    New toolkit to help women report abuse in sport

    Australian women face significant risk when disclosing gender-based violence in sport and often receive inadequate or harmful responses according to new research from La Trobe Univeristy. The research project, supported…