Toddler found alone with mother’s body

A toddler has been found alone in a home alongside his mother’s body, and could have been there for days before police arrived.

Victoria Police conducted a welfare check at an apartment complex in Werribee, about 32km southwest of Melbourne at about 11.40am on Wednesday.

Officers attended the property on Cottrell Street where they found the body of a woman, along with a young child who appeared to be unharmed.

The toddler was taken to hospital “as a precaution”, before being taken in by relatives.

It is believed the child could have been alone with the woman’s body for days.

Investigations into the woman’s death are ongoing, but police don’t believe there are suspicious circumstances.

“A post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death, however at this stage it appears non-suspicious,” police said in a statement.

A neighbour in the building, which is a mix of private and social housing, told the Herald Sun the toddler may have been there for up to 10 days.

“I’ve been told by her direct neighbour that the keypads for her room hadn’t been used for nine to 10 days,” neighbour Matt Giannelis said.

“She was in the building for so long, and it had been reported two days earlier and they didn’t take a look at it.

“The whole building smells.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.