The body of 53-year-old Eva Lasrini was discovered near Little River, south-west of Melbourne, on Saturday, after she had been reported missing on Thursday. Allan Keys, 67, identified by friends as Ms. Lasrini's former partner, was arrested at Melbourne Airport the following day and has since been charged with her murder. Keys has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to reappear in court in August.
Body Discovered Near Little River
Eva Lasrini, a 53-year-old resident of Dandenong, was reported missing on a Thursday after her family lost contact with her. She had been scheduled to travel to Indonesia to visit her daughters and failed to arrive on a flight to Denpasar, Bali, that her daughters were expecting last Wednesday.
Ms. Lasrini's body was located on Saturday near the Princes Freeway and Little River Road at Little River, south-west of Melbourne. The discovery site is approximately 46 kilometers from Melbourne's CBD.
While formal identification remains pending, authorities believe the body is that of Ms. Lasrini.
Former Partner Charged with Murder
Allan Keys, 67, identified by friends as Ms. Lasrini's former partner or ex-husband, was arrested on Friday at Melbourne Airport. Authorities stated he was attempting to board an international flight. Keys has since been charged with Ms. Lasrini's murder.
Ms. Lasrini's daughters, Adeline and Vanya, contacted Keys regarding their mother's absence. Keys reportedly stated he was overseas, specifically in Kuta, Bali, and unaware of her location.
However, online social media posts attributed to Keys' Facebook account, made after Ms. Lasrini was reported missing, reportedly showed him with another woman in Bali.
Court Appearance and Remand
Keys appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Saturday. He was remanded in custody and is scheduled to reappear in court on August 10.
Authorities have not yet released specific details regarding the circumstances or timeline of Ms. Lasrini's alleged death.
Eva Lasrini: A Life of Hope and Resilience
Ms. Lasrini was a mother of two daughters, Adeline and Vanya, who reside in Indonesia. She had moved to Australia a few years prior with limited English, reportedly seeking to integrate into Australian culture. Friends stated she had shared with them experiences of abuse in a prior relationship.
Ms. Lasrini had recently obtained her learner's permit and was engaged in English language studies, working in a warehouse. Her goal was to save funds to enable her daughters to relocate from Bali to Australia to attend university.
Adeline described her mother as "strong" and "loyal to her family."
Community Rallies to Support Daughters
Ms. Lasrini's daughter, Adeline, expressed grief following her mother's death. A GoFundMe page has been established by a friend, Gail Porter, to support Ms. Lasrini's daughters with travel expenses to Melbourne.
The Indonesian Consulate-General in Melbourne is collaborating with the Department of Home Affairs and Victoria Police to facilitate visas for the daughters to travel to Australia.
Adeline expressed a hope to "take my mother home" after these arrangements.