Police are investigating the discovery of a woman's body found in an industrial part of Doveton

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 yesterday.

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”.

The street was eerily quiet yesterday 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.

As part of investigations, homicide detectives yesterday searched Rani’s home, which she shares with her father.

She also has two brothers — one of whom is travelling with his young family in the US.





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.

Det-Sen-Sgt Stephen McIntyre said Rani suffered cuts to her body and traumatic head and facial injuries consistent with an “edged weapon”.

Sen-Sgt McIntyre ruled out that the her 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.”

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 on Tuesday.

“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.”

Anyone with information about her death is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.