THE suspect in the death of a young girl in Wangaratta is in a psychiatric ward.
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The 29-year-old Mildura man is under police guard at the Kerferd psychiatric unit in Wangaratta after the suspicious death of 11-year-old Zoe Buttigieg on Sunday.
Zoe’s mother discovered her body about 11am, but police have not revealed details of what occurred inside the home or where her body was discovered.
The man, who has not been questioned, had attended a party at the Inchbold Street home on Saturday night that stretched into Sunday morning.
Police believe he was invited to the gathering but was not particularly close the the family.
The man is thought to have travelled from the home to the southbound lanes of the Hume Highway early Sunday morning.
Detectives believe the man caught a lift from a passing driver or walked barefoot to Glenrowan between 4.30am and 6.20am.
He was stopped by police and paramedics about a kilometre south of the Glenrowan BP service station about 6.20am.
Police are yet to interview the man due to his mental state and were unlikely to do so on Monday.
Several other people are assisting police.
Detective Sergeant Paul Tremain said the incident was not domestic violence related, and said police were not seeking anyone else.
“It’s always hard on those who have to investigate where children have had their lives taken in the manner this has occurred,” he said.
“I can’t go into the matter of how that’s occurred.
“Whenever there is a death of a child involved it’s always hard.
“The family are obviously devastated.”
The man is expected to undergo an assessment by doctors on Tuesday.
Detective Sergeant Tremain is trying to track down anyone who saw the man near Inchbold Street or the Hume Highway on Sunday morning.
He was barefoot and wore cargo shorts and a singlet top, and was behaving erratically.
Tributes continued to flow on social media for Zoe and her family on Monday.
Many were shocked by the incident.
“How horrible for that poor family,” Alexia Nicholson wrote.
“A life cut far too short.”
Caroline Aylward said she felt “ill, hearing this tragic news”.
“My heart goes out to friends and family,” she wrote.
Neighbours had earlier told The Border Mail that Zoe had lived with her mother, and the mother’s partner often visited.
Anyone with information can call 1800 333 000.
