Pregnant aged care nurse found dead in possible murder

Devastated family and friends have expressed their disbelief after a Perth nurse was found dead just weeks from giving birth to her fourth child.

Homicide Squad detectives are investigating the circumstances that led to the death of Janet Dweh, 36, whose body was found at a house in Dayton, in the city’s northeast.

Police were called to the Mataro Drive property on Monday night where they believe the aged care nurse, who was eight months pregnant, may have been murdered.

A forensic crime scene was established and the street cordoned off as police investigated the death on Tuesday.

“The death is being treated as suspicious until it can be determined otherwise,” WA Police said in a statement.

Ms Dweh reportedly worked at an aged care home in Marangaroo and had just started maternity leave.

Family friends said the mother fled war in Liberia and spent years in a Nigerian refugee camp before she came to Australia and worked as an aged care nurse.

Friend Christopher Sunday broke down in tears as he described his disbelief over her death.

“That was wrong, for someone to just take her life like that … two murders because the infant [in her stomach] is gone,” he said.

Family at the scene described her as a “peaceful person”.

A statement from the Marangaroo aged care home Villa Terenzio described the shock staff were feeling over the nurse’s death.

“We are heartbroken as a community,” a spokesperson from Villa Terenzio told the West Australian newspaper.

“She was a dedicated nurse who was a loved and cherished colleague and a friend to so many people.”

Detectives and forensic investigators set up a large crime scene at the house and closed off part of the street earlier on Tuesday.

Investigators would like to speak to anyone that witnessed suspicious activity in the street between 10am on Saturday and 6pm on Monday.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report online.

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