The family of a young Indigenous woman found dead in an apartment complex in Melbourne’s inner-north on Saturday say they are “absolutely crushed and shattered” by her death.
Jayda Allen Bonner, 21, was found dead on the fifth floor of an apartment block on Cardigan Street, Carlton on Saturday at about 1.45am.
Police on Wednesday charged a 31-year-old man with murder. He was expected to appear in the Melbourne magistrates court that afternoon.
The man presented himself at a police station on Tuesday, police said.
A 60-year-old man who was initially arrested has been released without charge.
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Bonner’s aunt, Kellie Carter-Bell described her niece as a “vibrant, beautiful young girl” who was “fed to the wolves because the system didn’t listen”.
Carter-Bell said Bonner had been with her partner, who was 10 years her senior, since she was 15 years old.
Bonner lived with Carter-Bell in Melbourne as a young child and attended school in Carlton.
A memorial outside the Cardigan Street apartment where Jayda Allen Bonner was found dead. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP
Her aunt said “she was a beautiful family girl”, who had hopes of moving back to Queensland to be with “her mob and to work in the community”.
“Jayda wanted to share her own knowledge of what she could [do] to help her community,” she said. “I’ve heard from her school teachers what a beautiful, vibrant young lady she was.
“She had a lot of dreams and aspirations … She looks exactly like her mother, which is beautiful.
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“She’s someone this world shouldn’t have lost.
“I couldn’t save my niece, so I feel worthless and useless at the moment.
“The family is absolutely crushed and shattered. We don’t want her to ever be forgotten.”
In Australia, domestic and family violence counselling is available from Full Stop Australia on 1800 385 578. In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women’s Aid. In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines may be found via www.befrienders.org.
This story was amended on 14 October 2026. Victoria police have clarified that the man presented at a police station on Tuesday, rather than Monday as they had initially said.