'She couldn't have had more love': Neighbour says toddler found dead in creek was 'well looked after'
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a toddler, who was found in a creek in Melbourne’s north-east.
Little Sanaya was found dead near the Northland Shopping Centre, not far from her family's home.
Her mother told police her daughter was abducted by a ‘drunk and shoeless African man’.
On Sunday grieving mother Sofina Nikat, left her neighbour’s home showered with support by welfare workers as the desperate search for her baby came to a tragic end.
The body of the 15-month-old child was found in Darebin Creek just before 3am Sunday.
A major search involving police and SES volunteers was launched on Saturday, but it was a family of four who made the grim discovery, a kilometre from the family home.
The family who found Sanaya was involved in the search because they also had a child who went missing.
Sanaya’s grandfather told 7 News he was grateful to the family who found his granddaughter and to those who searched overnight.
Sanaya’s mother, 22, told police she was walking her baby in her pram in Olympic Park about 10am Saturday morning.
Ms Nikat told police a man pushed her to the ground and snatched Sanaya from her stroller, she claims he then ran off with her.
She said she tried to chase the man before running home and calling triple-zero.
Ms Nikat said the suspect was an African man aged between 20 and 30, wearing black clothes and no shoes.
She also claimed the man smelt of alcohol.
The mother's cousin, Habbib Ali told 7 News she was screaming and crying: "Somebody took my child, somebody took my child."
Police have said they have no suspects at this stage and the parents were assisting with their inquiries.
Police have door knocked homes in the area during their investigation.
A neighbour told 7 News Sanaya was ‘happy’ and well looked after.
“She couldn’t have had any more love,” Melynda Smith said.
Sanaya’s body was removed from the creek on Sunday afternoon and will undergo a post mortem examination.
Locals were seen leaving tributes for the little girl.
Detective Senior Sergeant Stuart Bailey said it wasn't known how long the body had been in the water.
"It is obviously extremely concerning for Victoria Police if this is a random abduction," he told reporters at the scene on Sunday.
"We need to be careful, alert, given what's taken place at this present time, but we'll wait and see how the investigation unfolds."
He appealed for anyone who saw the incident, the child or her blue and yellow pram to come forward.
It's believed Sanaya and her mother, from Mitcham, were staying with friends in Heidelberg West near the former 1956 Olympic Village following a separation from the tot's father.
A large orange tarpaulin was erected on Sunday morning around a part of the creek where the girl's body was found.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page.
News break – April 10
