Body found: Suspicious death on Ballarat farm

Homicide detectives are making a fresh appeal for information relating to the suspicious death of an elderly man inside his farmhouse near Ballarat.

Ken Handford’s body was found by a neighbour yesterday, on what would have been his 90th birthday.

He was last seen alive on Sunday morning. 

Detective Inspector Mick Hughes said drawers were found open in the house, but they are still trying to establish whether anything was stolen.

‘It’s not an easy property to find, there probably is some local knowledge,’ he said.

‘We will look at anyone who goes into that community.’

Police are awaiting the results of an autopsy in the hope it will offer clues to his death.

Detective Inspector Hughes said they’ve able to establish some of the victim’s final movements. 

‘He had a coffee with a friend about 11am on Sunday, which he left about midday,’ he said.

‘He was uncontactable on his mobile after then.’