Woman, child found dead outside flats in Melbourne’s east

Police are investigating the deaths of a woman and child, found outside apartments in Box Hill on Thursday night.

Emergency services were responding to reports that a woman was found unresponsive outside the 29-storey building on Prospect Street shortly before 6.20pm.

“An unresponsive child was discovered a short time later, nearby,” police said in a late-night statement.

The 38-year-old woman and five-year-old girl from Blackburn South could not be revived and died at the scene.

The area had been cordoned off late Thursday while detectives investigated the deaths.

Police said that at this stage, they were not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident.

On Friday morning, police had left the scene, with only small strips of police tape near the building left behind. Residents leaving for work and school said they knew very little about what had happened.

The Age understands the woman collected the key to a vacant apartment from the ground floor before walking up with the child.

Michael, a local with knowledge of the building, said the residents inside were a tight-knit community.

“The whole building is in mourning, crying,” he said.

One young woman, who didn’t want to be named, said people in a residents group chat had been praying for the woman and child before learning they had died.

“I think everyone will feel sad,” she said. “We don’t know what will happen.”

Another resident said she arrived home late on Thursday to find police and paramedics at the front of her building. She said she only found out on the news on Friday why they were there.

“I just feel a little terrified that it happened in my building,” she said.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Get the day’s breaking news, entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy. Sign up to receive our Evening Edition newsletter.

Alexander Darling is a breaking news reporter at The Age. He has previously worked at the ABC, as well as Horsham’s Wimmera Mail-Times and Triple M radio stations in NSW.Connect via email.