An Invercargill house where a body was discovered is owned by a Russian woman with links to a man who lives at another cordoned off property, the Otago Daily Times understands.
A woman was found dead at the property on Grace St yesterday and police are carrying out scene examinations there and at another property on Tay St.
The Grace St property was purchased by a Russian woman a year ago, who has been described to the ODT as a “very nice” person.
A neighbour on Grace St said it was "obvious" police believed the death was not of natural causes.
Meanwhile a neighbour of the property cordoned off on Tay St said he knew the man who lived there and that his then Russian wife left the property about a year ago.
Police are yet to confirm whether or not they are carrying out a homicide investigation.
Acting detective senior sergeant Greg Baird confirmed police were called to a Grace St address about 4.15pm yesterday after a woman was found dead at the property.
"We are currently treating her death as unexplained while we are working to understand the circumstances.''
A scene examination was under way at the Grace St property while a second property of interest was being looked at on Tay St.
Police emergency tape was seen wrapped around the Tay St property this morning and an Armourguard security vehicle was parked outside.
Snr Sgt Baird said further information would be released proactively when available.
A neighbour of the Tay St property said he knew the man who lived at the address, saying he was about 65.
The man's then wife - a Russian woman who was younger than him - moved away about a year ago.
He said the woman told him she wanted to get on the property ladder.
A real estate listing showed the Grace St property where a woman was found dead was sold on October 19 last year.
He said he was shocked to find out police were investigating right next door to him.
"I didn't know diddlysquat until now, it's a bit of an eye opener.
"It's a really quiet neighbourhood, you hear about these things happening but I never thought it would happen near me.''
The man, who wished to remain anonymous, said he was in his garage working with machinery yesterday afternoon and had not seen or heard anything about the investigation.
A resident at the property for over 25 years, he never heard of any problems at the address since the current owner moved in several years ago.
A neighbour of the Grace St property, who also wished to remain anonymous, said police had come over yesterday afternoon to say there would be an investigation at the property next door over the next few days.
"They just asked us to keep an eye and ear out for anything.
"It’s pretty scary though, it’s obvious they don’t think the death was [of] natural [causes]."
The woman said the area was generally very quiet and she had never heard of any problems.
"I’m pretty sure they’re all old people who live there and they keep to themselves."
