Victorian police charge man with murder of Melbourne woman Courtney Herron - ABC News

Courtney Herron, a young woman with long hair, wearing a red bow in her hair.

Police in Melbourne have charged a 27-year-old man with the murder of Courtney Herron.

Key points:

Courtney Herron had been couch surfing, police said
A 27-year-old man is expected to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court charged with murder
Ms Herron had drug and mental health issues, police said

Ms Herron, 25, was found dead by dog walkers near a group of logs in Royal Park, off Elliott Avenue in Parkville, about 9:25am on Saturday.

Victorian police detectives from the homicide squad arrested and interviewed the man on Sunday and charged him overnight with one count of murder.

The man will appear at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court later today.

A young woman with long brown hair poses for a photo with her arms crossed.

Police believed Ms Herron, of no fixed address, was attacked in the park either on Friday night or Saturday morning and that some efforts had been made to conceal her body.

It was not yet clear whether a weapon was used and there was no evidence that she had been sexually assaulted, police said following a post-mortem examination.

Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper from the homicide squad said Ms Herron had experienced issues with drugs and mental illness and had been couch surfing.

He said she may have been sleeping rough but it was not clear whether she had been sleeping in the park.

She was last seen in St Albans, in Melbourne's west, on May 14 when she had contact with police.

Detectives were trying to retrace her steps since then.

Inspector Stamper said Ms Herron had lived a "fairly transient lifestyle" and only had "sporadic" contact with her family.

Police stepped up patrols in the park on Sunday as members of the public left floral tributes at the spot where Ms Herron was found.

"You deserved so much better. May you rest in everlasting piece," one note read.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews called Ms Herron's death a "terrible, terrible tragedy" and said the Government would make any changes Victoria Police might recommend to improve public safety.

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