A COMMUNITY is mourning a young girl believed to have been murdered at her home in Victoria’s northeast at the weekend.

Zoe, 11, who was remembered as a sweet girl and a “beautiful angel”.

Neighbours and friends, among them children in school uniform, gathered outside the Wangaratta house today to lay flowers and toys for Zoe, 11, who was remembered as a sweet girl and a “beautiful angel”.

Distraught mother Janelle Saunders was being comforted by police and family, as homicide detectives continued to probe for clues into the suspected murder.

A 29-year-old Mildura man remained under police guard in a psychiatric unit of the Wangaratta Hospital.

It’s understood he was an acquaintance of the Saunders family, but was not well known to them. It’s believed he had attended a party at their Inchbold St property on Saturday night.

Local parents told of their anguish at having to explain the death to their children, including Zoe’s classmates at a primary school nearby to her home.

Police were yet to lay charges and were today speaking to “several” potential witnesses over the death.

Neighbours described a “beautiful” family, and said there were often friends gathered at the Saunders’ home.

It’s understood Zoe had been living with her mum and her mum’s long-term boyfriend, and that her biological dad died suddenly a number of years ago.

Pictures shared with friends and relatives by Ms Saunders and her partner revealed a happy household: Zoe playing with their pet dog Jax, family holidays to the beach and the snow, Zoe riding a horse.

Ms Saunders regularly shared photographs of her daughter, and had “Zoe Louise” tattooed across her wrist.