MADDY DEATH ARRESTS
TENT TRAGEDY: Trio in custody as cops swoop in Sydney over suspected murder of Geelong woman, 29
ARMED police have arrested two men and a woman in Sydney over the suspected murder of Maddison Parrott, whose body was found in a burnt tent at the Geelong Showgrounds.
Homicide detectives were called in after the remains of the 29-year-old from Waurn Ponds were discovered at the Breakwater showgrounds early on Tuesday morning.
The much-loved former Belmont High School student had been a store manager at Platypus Shoes, where she is understood to have worked until nearly a year ago.
Yesterday afternoon’s arrests in the Sydney suburb of Greystanes involved heavilyarmed officers from NSW Police’s tactical unit because there were fears the group was armed.
Neighbours said the trio had been staying at the home for less than 24 hours.
They were handed over to the NSW State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad detectives and taken to a police station.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the Homicide Squad was continuing its investigations into the alleged murder and would seek to have the trio extradited when they faced court in Sydney today.
“(Thursday) afternoon NSW police arrest two men and a woman in Greystanes in relation to the investigation,” she said. “Homicide Squad detectives are headed to NSW to further their investigations.”
Ms Parrott was separated from her husband, whom she wed about three years ago.
The break-up was acrimonious, one source told the Geelong Advertiser, while an- other said she had struggled after the split.
She had also previously been employed at Cotton On’s Market Square store in Geelong, and her social media posts reveal a concern for animal welfare.
Police have also been talking to former colleagues of Ms Parrott.
Victoria Police Acting Senior Sergeant Kris Hamilton yesterday told the Geelong Advertiser: “The deceased has been formally identified as a 29-year-old woman from Waurn Ponds and (the) Homicide Squad are investigating.”
Firefighters were called to the campsite at Geelong Showgrounds about 2am Tuesday and found the tent engulfed by flames. They extinguished the fire and found her body, which was clad in leopard print leggings.
Paul King, who was camping at the site, told the Geelong Advertiser on Tuesday that he saw two men setting up the tent on Sunday, which was a “glamping-style set up”.
Other campers said it looked like a “mini circus tent” with a “high peak and low walls”.