Body found at vacant house

Police are investigating the suspicious death of a 49-year-old woman after her body was found in the front yard of a vacant house in Gore yesterday.

Detective Sergeant Mike Bowman, of Invercargill CIB, told the Southland Times the body of Yvonne Marion Ross was discovered by a member of the public about 8.20am.

It was lying behind a 50cm-high fence on the front lawn of a Pomona St property but it was not thought Mrs Ross had any connection to the address, he said.

She had been socialising at the Longford Tavern in east Gore on Sunday night with family and friends but it was not known what her movements were after she left.

Mr Bowman said police would today attempt to track Mrs Ross' movements after she left the tavern to Pomona St, more than 3km across town.

An autopsy would also be carried out, which should determine the cause of death, he said.

- NZPA