A Melbourne woman found dead in her backyard had lived with her elderly mother, but police say she was alone when they found her.
Her death is being treated as suspicious but police haven't disclosed the nature of her injuries.
Neighbours called police at 9.30pm (AEST) on Monday after hearing noises at the home at Reservoir, in the city's north.
Homicide Detective Senior Sergeant David Snare said it was too early to give any indication as to the cause of death.
"It's sufficient to say we're treating the death as suspicious," he said.
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A post-mortem examination will be carried out on Tuesday afternoon.
The street has been taped off as forensic detectives scour the property and officers door knock neighbours.
One man who works in a shop on the same street said the woman, believed to be in her 40s, lived with her elderly mother.
A neighbour said she had two children, aged 19 and 22, who lived with their father.
"She was a very nice girl," the neighbour said.
Another neighbour, Michael Mokbel, said he heard a lot of noise around 9.45pm.
"I noticed the police cars and the fire brigade, but the moment I saw the forensics I thought something was up," he said.
"It's so disappointing. It's such a quiet neighbourhood."
Another neighbour, who lives on Wilson Boulevard, two blocks from the Massey Avenue crime scene, said a blond man knocked on her door about 8.30pm on Monday and offered to pay her $50 to hide his motorbike.
He said the police were after him.
"He knocked on the door and he was puffing out and I thought if you've got a motorbike why are you puffing out?" said the woman, who did not want to be named.
"He said to me, `I'm running from the police', he said to me, `The police are chasing me'."
She reported the incident.
It is not known if it is related.
