Twin girls discover mother's body at Pakenham home
Twin sisters have been left traumatised after finding the body of their mother who was killed in a vicious attack in their Victorian family home.
Kylie Blackwood, 42, was killed some time on Thursday in the house in Melbourne's outer south east while her 11-year-old daughters and 13-year-old son were at school.
Homicide Squad Detective Inspector John Potter said it was possible she had disturbed a burglar.
"The woman has been the subject of a vicious attack in her own home," Det Insp Potter said.
The twin girls alerted a neighbour who then called police and paramedics, but Ms Blackwood, who reportedly works in a nearby women's clothing store, could not be saved.
7News understands Ms Blackwood's husband - a local real estate agent - arrived at the McCaffery Rise home in Pakenham with the couple's teenage son a short time afterwards.
Police said there were no signs of forced entry at the house, but the garage door was left up, allowing access to the property.
Homicide and forensic detectives have seized items, including a computer hard-drive from the house in the search for clues, but police say the family has no known enemies.
There was no sign of forced entry into the home but the garage door was up, enabling access to the house.
"What we're looking at is the potential for it to be linked to other crimes, such as burglaries," Det Insp Potter said on Friday.
Police are appealing to the public for any clues as to what happened during school hours on Thursday in the south eastern Melbourne suburb.
Det Insp Potter couldn't say what caused the woman's injuries but confirmed that no weapon had been recovered.
Det Insp Potter has ruled out family violence, with a post-mortem due to be completed on Friday.
"We're dealing with a normal suburban family who have been the subject of a horrific attack," Det Insp Potter said.
The woman's husband was at work and was "certainly not involved", he said.
He described the incident as a vicious act.
"This is a woman in her own home who's been attacked and we intend to get to the bottom of it," he said.
Ms Blackwood's death has rocked the small local community.
"They were a lovely family, always polite and friendly," one neighbour said.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
