Dash-cam footage could hold key to brutal death of Sydenham widow: police
Dash-cam footage could hold the key to solving the brutal death of an elderly widow, suspected to have been murdered in her home in Melbourne's north-west.
Vicki Ramadan was found dead in her house at Sydenham on April 6, five days after she was last seen.
Police hope a motorist may have dash-cam footage of the 77-year-old when she was last seen, walking along Gourlay Road in Melton about 9.45am on April 1.
Ms Ramadan's body was discovered by a neighbour inside her Marlborough Way home just before 10am on April 6.
It’s believed she was brutally assaulted in her home, but detectives are unsure when.
Police said Ms Ramadan was often seen walking and was known to use buses or taxis.
She regularly visited the Watergardens shopping centre and police said she was well known by local traders.
Homicide squad Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper said Gourlay Road would have been very busy in the morning on April 1.
“We’re appealing for anyone with information to come forward or anyone who was passing this area in Melton to check their dash-cam footage,” Detective Inspector Stamper said.
“It would be too far for Vicki to walk from Gourlay Road to her home so we have to ask 'how did she get home'?
“What we are also interested in, is if anyone can provide details of any suspicious activity in and or around Vicki’s Marlborough Way home and if anyone has seen Vicki since this last sighting until when her body was found nearly a week later.”
Investigators are trawling through CCTV vision in the hope of identifying Ms Ramadan's last movements.
“There are many questions still to be answered with this investigation, including a possible motive, so it’s crucial we hear from the public," Detective Inspector Stamper said.
"We’d like to provide the family with answers and find the person who has brutally taken Vicki’s life."
Detectives released another image of Ms Ramadan on Wednesday in the hope it will assist their investigation.